ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team traveled to Rochester for their first two games of the season on Saturday and fell to Luther 2-1 before defeating Carroll 10-2.
“In game one we really came out and competed start to finish and we were really happy with our performance,” said Head Coach Britt Stewart. “We made adjustments in our approaches throughout the game against a very good pitcher and we got seven hits in the contest. Ashley pitched really well for us and dominated the strike zone. Our defense needs to be cleaned up a bit, but that will come as we continue to play more together as a team.”
Ashley Neuenfeldt (So., Bloomington, Minn.) started game one on the hill and went the distance, tossing seven innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out five in the loss. The Norse got their two runs in the third inning thanks to a pair of hits and a Gustie error.
Gustavus got their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the fifth when Caitlin Kammerer (Jr., Watertown, Minn.) drove in Aly Freeman (Jr., Omaha, Minn.), who had singled earlier in the inning.
Emily Carlson (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) and Freeman both led the Gusties with two hits in the contest.
“Game two was a battle for five innings, and then we were able to string multiple hits together in the sixth,” said Stewart. “Producing 10 runs in two innings is big and we had solid defense and Aly pitched really well and kept us in the game and she also crushed the ball at the plate today with two ground rule doubles. Our coaching staff is really happy with such a strong start to the season but also know there is work to do.”
For the second consecutive contest the Gusties had a pitcher go the distance and allow no earned runs as Freeman struck out five and allowed seven hits for the first Gustavus victory of the season.
It took awhile for the offense to get going in game two as the Gusties managed just three hits in the first five innings before they exploded for seven hits and six runs in the sixth. After Carroll answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth the Black and Gold tacked on four more runs in the seventh to seal the deal.
Freeman not only starred on the mound but at the plate as well, as she contributed three hits, two RBI’s, and two runs to her efforts. First-years Sydney Swenson (Fy., Chaska, Minn.), Kaylyn Leonard (Fy., Plymouth, Minn.), and Kenzie Skuza (Fy., Princeton, Minn) each had two hits in their second collegiate start with Leonard driving in three runs and scoring twice. Kammerer finished her day off with two hits for the Gusties as well.
Gustavus will next be in action tomorrow at 8 a.m. when they take on Buena Vista. They will follow that contest with a 10 a.m. matchup with UW-Oshkosh