SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team took doubleheader losses in their Thursday games at St. Kate’s. The team moves to 7-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
The Gusties were looking to get back above their .500 record and compete in conference play when they traveled to St. Paul for a Thursday double-header against St. Kate’s.
Playing catch up to a 4-0 Wildcat lead in the top of the third, Allie Skuza (So., Princeton) delivered on a single to left center to score Ashley Neunfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) and Kayla Ruud (So., Savage) to cut the deficit in half. After a back and forth defensive heavy game, the Gusties allowed two more runs before entering a potentially game changing final inning.
Kate Murray (So., Minnetonka) made a strong read on the Wildcat pitcher and walked in the top of the seventh as Kasey Domke (Fy., Woodbury) came in on a run. Kaylyn Leonard (Jr., Plymouth) scored Payton Belt (Fy., Indianola, Iowa) on a fielder’s choice and Piper Otto (Fy., Brooklyn Park) singled it right field scoring Allie Skuza to bring it to a one run game.
Despite the nail biter of a final inning, St. Kate’s rallied its defense and the Gusties had their bats cooled in the 6-5 loss.
Neunfeldt got the start on the mound pitching four innings and Belt closed for the final two.
“I was proud of our fight in game one,” said Head Coach Coley Ries “We were ultimately one swing away from a different outcome. We found a way to get on base and just waited too long to finally bring some of them home.”
Aiming to split the series, the Gusties came in stronger in the second game of the day. Gustavus held the Wildcats to three runs before Mackenzie Skuza (Jr., Princeton) launched a homerun to get the Gusties on the board in the top of the sixth. St. Kate’s responded with one more run for the 4-1 final.
Otto pitched 2.1 innings and Amara Packey (Jr., Fridley) closed for the remainder.
“The second game we just made too many mistakes. Against good teams we can’t give them extra outs. Overall we had a lot of positives come out of the day. We know what we need to do differently to win ball games, it comes down to execution.”