TUCSON, Ariz. – The Gustavus softball team started play on their spring break trip where they defeated Cornell 10-6 before taking down Skidmore 9-1 in six innings. With the wins the Gusties move to 4-4 on the season.
“Today was a really fun day out on the field,” said Head Coach Britt Stewart. “Our team really came together to produce two wins for a nice start to our spring trip. Caitlin [Kammerer], (Jr., Watertown, Minn.) found ways to execute, get on base, and score out fo the two spot today and we’re excited to keep seeing big things from her offensively. Ashley [Neuenfeldt] (So., Bloomington, Minn.) and Aly [Freeman] (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) pitched well and mixed pitches to keep hitters off balance all day to help us tally a pair of team wins.”
In their first contest in over a week the Gusties came out swinging the bats well as they rattled off nine runs in the first four innings to help them secure a victory. Cornell posted a three spot in the top of the first inning to jump out to an early lead but the Gusties responded in the bottom half. Emily Carlson (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) was beaned to start the inning and Kammerer followed her with a single to get things started. A batter later, Freeman hit her seventh double of the season to drive in both runners and put two on the board for Gustavus. The Black and Gold didn’t stop there though as they got three more runs in the bottom of the second thanks to a Kammerer triple that drove in two, followed by a Neuenfeldt single. After Cornell scored two in the top of the third, Kenzie Skuza (Fy., Princeton, Minn.) led off the bottom half with her first collegiate home run, and Ashley Beise (Sr., Loretto, Minn.) doubled and later scored to add two more. Then in the fourth, a Kammerer walk, Neuenfeldt single, and Freeman double plated two to put the Gusties up 9-5. Gustavus gave up one more run in the sixth but answered with a Neuenfeldt RBI to put Gustavus into double-digits
Freeman started the game on the hill for the Gustavus, going three innings and allowing three earned runs, while Neuenfeldt picked up the win in relief, going four innings, allowing one run on two hits, and striking out five.
Neuenfeldt also led the team at the plate with three hits, while Kammerer and Freeman both notched two.
Game two was much of the same with Gustavus getting a solid outing on the mound, combined with solid contributions at the plate to take home the win. The Gusties led off the top of the first and were given some extra bases by Skidmore and took advantage. Kammerer singled, Neuenfeldt reached on an error, then Kammerer scored on a throwing error to plate the first run. Neuenfeldt was then driven in by a Beise double to plate another and put the Gusties up 2-0.
Two runs would have been enough in the contest as Neuenfeldt started the game on the mound and threw a gem. She went all six innings, allowing five hits and one run, while striking out eight but the Gusties kept piling the runs on.
The Black and Gold scored again in the third when Kammerer bunted for a hit, followed by a Neuenfeldt double to plate one more run. After Skidmore scored their lone run in the fourth, the Gusties put the game out of reach scoring six total runs in the fifth and sixth. A Neuenfeldt home run drove in two runs in the fifth, while Gustavus pieced together five hits in the sixth to score four more.
Neuenfeldt and Kammerer both finished the second contest with three hits, with Neuenfeldt driving in four runs, and Kammerer scoring four times. Skuza was the other Gustie with multiple hits as she had two.
The Gusties are back in action tomorrow when they play Saint Mary’s (Ind.) at 1:30 p.m MST. and Mount Mary at 6 p.m MST.