DULUTH, Minn. – The Gustavus softball traveled to Duluth for a non-conference doubleheader against ranked St. Scholastica winning 5-4 in game one and 6-1 in game two. The Gusties currently hold a 17-17 record after the Monday sweep.
“I am so incredibly proud of the performance today,” said Head Coach Coley Ries “We played our best softball of the season against a great team. Our pitching and defense held strong and our offense was contagious. This double header was the highlight of the season and a huge stepping stone for what’s to come.”
Gustavus 5, St. Scholastica 4 (9 innings) | Box Score
The Gusties took an early lead when Piper Otto (Fy., Brooklyn Park) hit a single to right field bringing in Madelyn Mueller (Fy., North Mankato) for the first run of the day. Both teams locked down on defense as the game progressed. After five scoreless innings Allie Skuza (So., Princeton) swung on a sac fly scoring Taylor Braun (Fy., Cologne) for a 2-0 lead. St. Scholastica tied things up before heading to the final inning.
Kayla Ruud (So., Savage) remained hot on the bat with a hard hit two-run single into right field for a 4-2 Gustavus lead but the Saints responded with two more runs of their own forcing the rainy day showdown to go into extra innings.
In the top of the ninth, with Ruud on first, Ashley Neunfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) lined a game winning triple to left center. The 5-4 victory was the first loss of the season at home for ranked St. Scholastica.
Neunfeldt earned the win after pitching seven innings, striking out batters, and allowing four runs off seven hits.
Gustavus 6, St. Scholastica 1 | Box Score
Gustavus looked to pick up where they left off however the Saints were determined to come out on top, taking a one-run lead after the first inning.
The Gusties responded in the fifth when Mueller lined a triple down left field, tying the game back up. Ruud singled up the middle for what proved to be the game winning run. Following strong defensive plays in the top of the sixth, Gustavus added an insurance run with a double from Isabel Reuvers (Fy., Medford) before a seventh inning finale.
In the final frame Ruud laced a double to center field for the fourth run and Kenzie Skuza found the back of the fence with her third homerun of the season, tacking on two more to finish the 6-1 sweep.
Otto stayed solid in the circle tossing seven innings of relief, allowing one run off of six hits and finishing the game with four strikeouts.
Gustavus is back in action on Sunday when they host UW-Superior for its final game of the season with a 3:30 first pitch.