SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team hosted Hamline Friday afternoon and dropped the first contest 4-2 before falling in game two 6-4. With the results the Gusties move to 14-18 on the season and 5-13 in MIAC play.
Gustavus was able to strike first in game one scoring a run in both the first and second innings to take an early 2-0 lead. In the first, a Sydney Swenson (Fy., Chaska, Minn.) walk was followed by singles fromAly Freeman (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) and Xandra Zachman (Fy., Saint Peter, Minn.) to plate Swenson and give Gustavus the early edge. The Gusties were able to add another run in the second when Emily Carlson (Jr., Burnsville, Minn.) singled and advanced on a wild pitch and a stolen base before a Marissa Marsolek (So., Savage, Minn.) sac fly put the Black and Gold up 2-0.
In the fifth inning Hamline struck back in what was a messy inning. Controversy struck when a suicide squeeze gone wrong by the Pipers resulted in interference being called on the Gusties and a run scoring. The Pipers would score another run later in the inning thanks to a Gustavus error to even the game at two. Hamline added two more runs in the sixth thanks to three hits to extend their lead t0 4-2.
The Gusties would threaten in the seventh by getting two runners on but a line out to right field would end the game.
Freeman took the loss on the mound going seven innings, allowing two earned runs, and striking out four.
Gustavus had seven different players record hits in the contest.
Gustavus got the scoring started again in game two, as Ashley Neuenfeldt (So., Bloomington, Minn.) reached on a two base error, was bunted to third and then a Freeman sac fly scored her.
Hamline responded though, scoring four runs on four hits in the second inning to take the 4-1 lead. A solo home run in the fifth would add another run for Hamline and make the score 5-1 but Gustavus would respond in the bottom half. The Gusties got a double from Neuenfeldt and a single from Swenson before Freeman’s sixth home run of the season made the score 5-4.
In the top of the seventh, the Pipers got one back and the Gusties couldn’t answer and fell by a score of 6-4.
Aside from Neuenfeldt, Swenson, and Freeman, the only other Gustie hit was a double by Carlson. Neuenfeldt took the loss on the mound, going 6.1 innings and allowing four earned runs.
The Gusties are back in action tomorrow when they travel to Bethel for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.