ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team ended its weekend at the Rochester Regional Bubble with a pair of losses Sunday. The Gusties lost 8-3 to Nebraska Wesleyan and 3-2 to Carroll, moving their overall record to 1-3.
“Despite two losses today, our girls played excellent defense,” Head Coach Britt Stewart said. “We kept our pitchers in the game by playing behind them. As a staff we pitched much better by getting ahead of batters and we need to build on that. Our pitchers are gaining experience on the mound and learning more about their attack process. We need to focus more on our approaches at the plate and make better adjustments throughout the game.”
Gustavus 3, Nebraska Wesleyan 8
After two scoreless innings, Nebraska Wesleyan scored three runs in the third on four hits and an error. The Gusties responded with two runs in the top of the fifth as Kim Kurtzweg (Sr., Arlington, Minn.) batted in Aly Freeman (So., Omaha, Neb.) on a double to center field. Kurtzweg then scored on a hit by Marissa Marsolek (Fy., Savage, Minn.). But Nebraska Wesleyan had an answer in the bottom half, scoring four runs on four hits. The Prairie Wolves added another run in the sixth before the Gusties scored their third and final run in the seventh on an Emily Webb (Jr., Maple Lake, Minn.) RBI.
Freeman took the loss on the mound after four and two-thirds innings. She allowed eight runs on 12 hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Marsolek led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The Black and Gold jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Carroll tied the game in the second and scored the game-winning run in the third.
Ashley Neuenfeldt (Fy., Bloomington, Minn.) singled, stole second, and scored on a ground-run double off the bat of Emily Carlson (So., Burnsville, Minn.). Carlson then scored on an error after stealing third base. The lead didn’t last long as Carroll scored two in the second on a hit and an error. The winning run in the third was scored after a single, double, and ground-out RBI. Both teams were held scoreless the rest of the way.
Neuenfeldt went the distance, allowing one earned run on eight hits with three strikeouts and two walks. She also led the team at the dish, going 2-for-3 with a run.
“We were able to see more athletes in action today which helped us continue to build as a team,” Stewart said. “We learned a lot this weekend and will use that to build on and get ready for Tucson.”
Gustavus has nearly three weeks off before traveling to Arizona for the Tucson Invitational on March 15-19, where they will play 10 games in five days.