WINONA, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team scored 18 runs on 25 hits Sunday in a doubleheader split at Saint Mary’s. The Gusties won game one 9-2 before dropping the second game 11-9, moving to 12-18 overall and 7-9 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 9, Saint Mary’s 2 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties got things going right away in the first frame with a pair of runs. Madelyn Mueller (So., North Mankato) led off with a single and later scored on a throwing error. With the bases loaded, Kenzie Skuza (Sr., Princeton) hit a sac fly to left field for the 2-0 lead. The Cardinals got one back in the bottom half after two hits and an error, but the Gusties went back up by two in the second. Isabel Reuvers (So., Medford) started the frame with a double and scored on a base hit by Rachel Kawiecki (Fy., Richfield).
After two scoreless innings, the Cardinals scored a run in the fifth after a walk, passed ball, and RBI single. The Gusties again had an answer by scoring a pair of runs in the sixth. Reuvers singled and later scored on an error. Kaylyn Leonard (Sr., Plymouth) ensued with an RBI single through the left side.
Gustavus put the game out of reach in the seventh with four runs on five hits, highlighted by an RBI triple by Leonard to make the score 9-2.
Piper Otto (So., Brooklyn Park) moved to 5-11 on the season with the complete game victory. She allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks. Leonard led the team at the plate, batting 4-for-4 with two runs, a double, triple, and a walk.
Gustavus 9, Saint Mary’s 11 | BOX SCORE
The home team started strong with three runs in each of the first two innings. The Cardinals scored on three hits and an error in both the first and second for a 6-0 lead. The Gusties responded in the third with a five-run frame. Kawiecki hit an RBI infield single while another run scored on a throwing error. Single runs were batted in by Greta Dahlen (Fy., West Des Moines, Iowa), Kate Murray (Jr., Minnetonka), and Reuvers to make it a one-run deficit.
The Gusties then tied the game in the fourth as Mueller reached on an error and later scored on a double by Kayla Ruud (Jr., Savage), but the Cardinals ensued with four runs on two hits and two errors in the bottom half for a 10-6 lead. The home team added a run in the fifth before the Gusties got two back in the sixth to make it an 11-8 game. Leonard reached on an error, Kawiecki singled, and both scored on another error.
Gustavus made things interesting in the seventh with a two-out rally. Mueller and Leonard both singled and Kawiecki followed by reaching on a error by the center fielder, allowing Mueller to score and put runners on the corners, but the Cardinals coaxed a pop fly to end the game.
Ruud led the offense, batting 3-for-4 with a run, double, and RBI. Payton Belt (So., Indianola, Iowa) took the loss after 2.1 innings of relief. She allowed four earned runs on six hits and three strikeouts.
Gustavus next plays at Carleton on Tuesday afternoon for another MIAC doubleheader.