MANKATO, Minn. — Gustavus softball kicked off its 2023 campaign in the Maverick All-Sports Dome, coming away with two losses Saturday night. The Gusties’ season opener was foiled by Coe, 8-0, and the Gustavus comeback effort came up just short against UW-Eau Claire, falling 6-4 to the Blugolds.
Gustavus 0, Coe 8 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties managed just three hits against a pair of Coe College pitchers, as the Kohawks dealt the Gusties an 8-0 setback in their season opener.
The Kohawks plated the only run they would need in the first inning of the opener, scoring once off Gustavus starter Piper Otto (Jr., Brooklyn Park). Coe added four more in the next two innings for an early 5-0 lead over the Gusties.
Kayla Herda (So., Farmington), Katelyn Kasper (Fy., Maple Grove), and Shelby Ringwelski (So., Forest Lake) collected the Gusties’ three hits in the opener, as Coe out-hit the Gusties 12-3 through the game.
Otto took the pitching loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in two innings, while Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland) surrendered a trio of runs on four hits in two innings of relief.
Gustavus 4, UW-Eau Claire 6 | BOX SCORE
The Blugolds certainly stepped up to the plate ready to play, as Eau Claire’s Megan Maruna homered on the first at-bat of the game. The Blugolds added two more runs before the end of the first inning on three hits off Maizie Anderson (Fy., Rosemount) in her first collegiate start.
The Gusties responded to the Blugolds’ three runs with one of their own, as Herda singled on her first at-bat of the game, scoring on a one-out fly by Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury).
The Gusties’ bats came to life in the sixth inning, responding to Eau Claire’s fourth run with three of their own to tie the game at 4-4. Olafsson singled up the middle then advanced to second thanks to a single off the bat of Kasper. The Gusties advanced Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage) on an error to load the bases with Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa) up to bat. Dahlen singled sending Olafsson home, and was followed by another single by Isabel Reuvers (Jr., Medford), sending Grace Gardner (Fy., Big Lake) home for the Gusties’ third run of the day. Olivia Guggenberger (Fy., Rosemount) sent Dahlen home on a walk, ending the inning with both teams deadlocked at 4-4.
The Gusties forced two pitching changes in the sixth, stringing together more hits in one inning than they had in their entire opening game against Coe.
Unfortunately for the Gusties, UW-Eau Claire added two more runs to their total to take back the lead, closing the game at 6-4 and handing the Gusties their second setback of the day.
Olafsson led the Gusties’ six-hit game two attack, going 2-3 with a run and an RBI. Herda, Dahlen, Reuvers, and Kasper all finished with one hit against the Blugolds. Anderson pitched a full game in her first collegiate start, allowing six runs on 11 hits.
The Gusties are off until next Saturday, heading to Rochester to face Grinnell and Luther on Saturday, followed by a rematch against UW-Eau Claire and a game against UW-La Crosse the following day.