(photo courtesy of David Faulkner, SPX Sports)
SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team Saturday was swept by Hamline by scores of 4-3 and 15-6. The Gusties drop to 11-17 overall and 6-8 in the MIAC, while the Pipers improve to 15-11 overall and 6-7 in the league.
Gustavus 3, Hamline 4 | BOX SCORE
The Pipers took an early 1-0 lead in the first after a walk, stolen base, and RBI double. Hamline then upped its lead to 3-0 in the third with another RBI double followed by a run-scoring wild pitch.
The visitors added what proved to be the game-winning run in the fifth, scoring on another wild pitch.
Gustavus ended the shutout in the bottom half as Kate Murray (Jr., Minnetonka) reached on an error and later scored on a single by Kayla Herda (Fy., Farmington). The Gusties scored two in the sixth to make it a one-run game as Greta Dahlen (Fy., West Des Moines, Iowa) hit a two-run homer over the center field fence, but that would be it for the Gustie offense.
Piper Otto (So., Brooklyn Park) pitched the complete game, allowing three earned runs on four hits with a strikeout. Four different Gusties had one hit apiece.
Gustavus 6, Hamline 15 (6 inn.) | BOX SCORE
The Pipers rolled their momentum into game two by scoring a run in the first and two more in each of the second and third innings for a 5-0 lead. The Gusties scored their first run in the third as Kaylyn Leonard (Sr., Plymouth) doubled to right center followed by a double to left center off the bat of Rachel Kawiecki (Fy., Richfield).
Hamline blew the game open in the fourth, scoring seven runs on five hits for a 12-1 advantage.
The Gusties wouldn’t go down without a fight and prolonged the game with four runs in the fifth. Herda tripled and scored on an single by Shelby Ringwelski (Fy., Forest Lake). Leonard scored on an error and Payton Belt (So., Indianola, Iowa) followed with a hard-hit single off the pitcher to score two runs.
The Pipers added three runs on four hits in the sixth and held the Gusties to one run in the bottom half to force to run-rule.
Chloe Smallfield (Fy., Papillion, Neb.) took the loss after two innings. She allowed three runs on six hits with a strikeout. Leonard led the offense, batting 3-for-3 with two runs, a double, triple, walk, and an RBI.
Gustavus travels to Saint Mary’s tomorrow for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.