MANKATO, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team closed out its series in the Vikings Classic with a 3-1 loss to Bethany and a 6-2 win over Finlandia. The Gusties are now 3-3 overall and have yet to begin conference play.
“We could have come out of the day 2-0 if we would’ve played Gustie softball,” said Head Coach Coley Ries. “In the first game we were putting the ball in play we just weren’t getting the whole ball. In the second game we were able to make those adjustments and start squaring some balls up. So I like seeing our progress in the two games but overall, coming out of Wednesday and Thursday 3-1 is a successful couple of days.”
Gustavus 1, Bethany 3 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties had their bats hot still from their 3-0 win over Concordia and 4-0 win over Finlandia when they took on Bethany Lutheran for a 7 a.m. matchup. Payton Belt (Fy., Indianola, Iowa) hit a single up the middle to get on base and took advantage of a wild pitch advancing to second. Allie Skuza (So., Princeton) singled it up right field to get Belt on third. Amanda Markert (So., Shakopee) was halted by a double play but Belt’s run put the Gusties up on an early lead.
Bethany retaliated in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to take over the lead and tack on another in the fifth. Despite the Gusties efforts they finished with a 3-1 loss.
Ashley Neunfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) faced 22 batters in six innings pitched.
Gustavus 6, Finlandia 2 | BOX SCORE
Looking to bounce back in their second game of the morning, the Gusties squared up against Finlandia for a rematch after their 4-0 Wednesday win.
In the bottom of the third with Taylor Braun (Fy., Cologne) on second and Sierra Meyer (Jr., Waconia on third, Madelyn Mueller (Fy., North Mankato) hit a single to shortstop to put Braun on third and score Meyer for the first run. Meuller stole second and Braun stole home for Gustavus to take a 2-0 lead. The Lions responded with a run in the top of the fourth but with a fly out to left field from Kaylyn Leonard (Jr., Plymouth), Piper Otto (Fy., Brooklyn Park) was able to score, giving the Gusties a 3-1 edge. Meyer singled up the middle to score Kate Murray (So., Minnetonka) for the fourth run and an error from Finlandia scored Meyer to close out the fourth inning with a 5-1 lead. The Lions added a double to put up one more run in the top of the sixth but Mueller’s single to right in the bottom of the sixth scored Isabel Reuvers (Fy., Medford) for the 6-2 Gustie win.
“Sierra had a couple of big hits in game two, it was her first game catching since high school and nobody would have known it,” said Ries “She took over and did a great job and was also able to bring the bat so it was fun to see her come alive.”
Otto faced 24 batters, had 11 strikeouts in six innings pitched and Amara Packey (Jr., Fridley) closed with two strikeouts.
“Piper threw really well in her first start, having 11 strikeouts was huge. All of our pitchers at this point have had enough innings to build their confidence in whatever situation we put them in,” said Ries.
The Gusties are back in action when they face off against Northwestern on Saturday with a 1:00 first pitch.
“We’re doing a lot of resting and rehabilitation before our next game. The first week was a lot so we just want to make sure our bodies are right and be ready with a fresh body and mind for our Saturday game.”