SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team took a loss and a win at home when they hosted Concordia Moorhead for a double-header on Sunday. The Gusties lost 6-1 and won 3-2. The Gusties move to 9-11 overall and 4-8 in the conference.
After both teams kept each other scoreless in the first inning, the Cobbers heated the game up in the second frame with three runs off of four hits. Ashley Neunfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) hit a single up the middle to score Madelyn Mueller (Fy., North Mankato) bringing it to a 3-1 game. Concordia kept an offensive edge adding two more runs in the fourth and the Gusties were unable to find their stride. The Cobber’s tacked on a sixth in the final frame to hand Gustavus a 6-1 loss in game one.
Payton Belt (Fy., Indianola, Iowa) pitched all seven innings with two strikeouts.
Kate Murray (So., Minnetonka) set the tone looking for revenge in game two. In the second inning Murray’s double brought in Allie Skuza (So., Princeton) for the first Gustavus lead of the day. Concordia was silenced by the Gustie defense until the fifth inning when they put up two runs to take over the lead.
However, Gustavus came in ready to battle. A grounded hit from Amanda Markert (So., Shakopee) scored Kayla Ruud (So., Savage) to tie up the game in the bottom of the fifth. After a scoreless sixth inning, the Cobbers attempted a save on the mound but it wouldn’t be enough. Ruud lit up the field with a walk-off double to score Mueller in a 3-2 winning finish.
Neunfeldt was credited with the win in her seven innings pitched, 28 batters faced, and three strikeouts.
“The second game was the highlight of our year so far,” said Head Coach Coley Ries “It was fun to see the team have the energy and fight. I’m so proud of Kayla for coming through with a big hit to win the game. Ashley threw a great game in the circle. We needed that win and need to take the momentum into this next week.”