SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team hosted Crown College for a pair of non-conference games on Thursday afternoon and swept in 11-3 and 11-0 finishes. Gustavus combined for 22 hits including three doubles and three triples while the pitching staff collectively finished with a .70 ERA.
With the wins the Gusties improve to 14-16 overall and remain 7-13 in conference play.
“It was really nice to continue on from our second game yesterday,” said Head Coach Coley Ries. “We came out hot in our at-bats. In game two, to bat through the lineup in the first inning was something we haven’t done yet, so it was nice to see us put it together and keep our foot on the gas. We’re really focusing on scoring each inning.”
Gustavus 11, Crown 3 | BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
Madelyn Mueller (Fy., North Mankato) set the tone with a walk and a steal before Kayla Ruud (So., Savage) launched an RBI double into left field for the first run of the day. Piper Otto (Fy., Brooklyn Park) grounded out another to score Ruud for an early 2-0 lead in the first frame.
The Gusties shut down every Storm batter in the second inning and went on a tear to put up five more runs in the third in fourth innings. Ruud paced the offense going 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBI.
Crown responded with three runs, but Otto delivered with a a two-run RBI single to close things out with the 11-3 finish.
Ashley Neunfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) earned the mound victory with a strikeout, twelve batters faced, and three innings pitched. Payton Belt (Indianola, Iowa) also saw time on the mound, finishing the remaining two.
Gustavus 11, Crown 0 | BOX SCORE
Gustavus intended to extend their win streak in game two. Ruud led off with a walk and scored on an error. Allie Skuza (So., Princeton) sniped a single to left field scoring Otto for the second run. The Gusties tallied on two more runs off of an error and Kaylyn Leonard (Jr., Plymouth) picked a spot on right field to double down for runs five and six. Mueller picked up an RBI triple and Ruud closed the first inning with an RBI single for Gustavus to lead in an explosive 8-0 first inning.
The Storm was able to get runners on bases but the Gusties held a defensive edge, tagging on plays in the second inning. Otto tallied her second run of the game followed by Ruud’s second RBI in the third inning to bring the game to double digits.
Despite close calls for Crown to score in the fourth inning, Leonard led the team with her fourth RBI of the day scoring Sierra Meyer (Jr., Waconia) for the 11-0 win.
Otto was credited with the win tossing three innings of relief allowing a single hit, walk, and one strikeout. Amara Packey (Jr., Fridley) closed in the final two innings with one strikeout and kept Crown to one hit.
“We want to keep that winning feeling. We haven’t had two sweeps in a row in a while so being able to stay confident and keep playing our ball will hopefully help us end on a high note.”
The Gusties resume MIAC action when they host Carleton on Saturday for a doubleheader with a 1:00 pitch.