SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team hosted Carleton for a pair of contests on Tuesday and dropped both by scores of 10-2 and 5-0. With the results the Gusties move to 12-14 on the season and 3-9 in the MIAC.
The Knights started game one quickly, scoring in the top of the first thanks to an error to go ahead 1-0. The Gusties were able to respond in the bottom half though bringing in two runs thanks to five hits with an RBI double coming off the bat of Aly Freeman (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) and an RBI single going to Kenzie Skuza (Fy., Princeton, Minn.).
Freeman, who started on the mound, was able to hold the Knights at bay until the fifth inning when the Knights broke out for four runs on four hits to take a 5-2 lead.
In the seventh inning the Knights once again were able to get to Freeman for five more runs to take a 10-2 lead and force a Gustie pitching change. Amara Packey (Fy., Fridley, Minn.) recorded the final two outs of the inning while allowing one hit. Freeman finished her 6.1 innings allowing nine earned runs while striking out three.
The Knights were able to get three outs and hold the Gusties scores in the seventh to take the victory.
Freeman was the only Gustie in the contest with multiple hits with two.
Although the Gusties couldn’t muster a run through four innings of play, the performance of Ashley Neuenfeldt (So., Bloomington, Minn.) on the mound, and solid defense behind her kept the game tied at 0-0 going into the fifth inning. Carleton got on the board in the top of the fifth with a single, a stolen base, and another single to plate the first run of the contest which would prove to be the game sealer.
The Knights were then able to tack on two more runs in both the sixth and seventh inning to add to their lead and eventually take home the victory.
In game two Carleton outhit Gustavus 10-3 with two hits of the Gusties hits coming from Grace Viland (Fy., Faribault, Minn.) and the other coming from Kaylyn Leonard (Fy., Plymouth, Minn.)
Neuenfeldt went six innings, allowing three runs while striking out three batters in the loss. Packey pitched the final inning, allowing one hit and two unearned runs.
The Gusties will next be in action on Saturday when they head to Macalester for a 1 p.m. contest.