ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team lost two one-run games Tuesday afternoon at Hollingsworth Field, falling 4-3 and 1-0 versus St. Olaf College, dropping its overall record to 9-21 and 5-11 within the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Down 3-2 in the seventh inning, the Oles rallied for two runs off of two hits to claim a 4-3 lead and sent the Gusties down in order to earn a comeback victory in game one.
Gustavus took the first lead of the game in the second inning. Kim Kurtzweg (Jr., Arlington, Minn.) led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third from a Jessican Neuman (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) sacrifice bunt. Caitlin Kammerer (So., Watertown, Minn.) then singled up the middle to plate Kurtzweg and give the home team a 1-0 lead.
St. Olaf answered with a couple runs off of two hits in the fourth, but the Black and Gold came right back in the bottom half with pair of runs as well to take the 3-2 lead. Kurtzweg again led off with a single and came around to score after a two-run double by Aly Freeman (So., Omaha, Neb.).
Freeman took the loss in the circle during her fifth start of the season. She allowed four runs in 5.1 innings pitched while tallying three strikeouts, dropping her record to 1-6.
Julie Graf came in to pitch in the second inning for the Oles and earned the win, posting nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
The Gusties were on the wrong side of a pitcher’s duel in game two, as both teams combined for just seven hits while the visitors registered the game-winning run in the final inning.
Graf was tough on the Gusties again in game two, notching seven punchouts in five innings pitched en route to earning the win in the circle.
Freeman stayed in the circle for game two and turned in a solid outing despite receiving the loss. She allowed four Ole hits in seven innings pitched.
After a leadoff base on balls, a RBI double scored the first run of the game and eventual game-winner for St. Olaf in the seventh as the posted a 1-0 lead. The Gusties threatened in the bottom half as Kurtzweg reached first to lead off the inning with a hit by pitch, her third of the game and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Emily Webb (Jr., Maple Lake, Minn.). However, the next to Gusties were sent down, surrendering the series sweep.
Taylor Shortly (Sr., Forest Lake, Minn.) also recorded her first career hit as a Gustie in game two.
Next Up
The Gusties will take a day off tomorrow before returning for another conference doubleheader on Thursday at Gustie Softball Field. Gustavus hosts Saint Mary’s at 3:30 p.m.