CLAREMONT, Fla. — Turns out all the Gusties needed was a little heat. For the first time all season, the Gustavus softball team posted two back-to-back wins on the first day of the Gusties’ Florida spring trip. Gustavus defeated St. Lawrence 4-0 to start the day, followed by a 6-3 victory over Manchester University later in the afternoon.
Gustavus 4, St. Lawrence 0 | BOX SCORE
Maizie Anderson (Fy., Rosemount) told the story against the Saints, getting the nod on the mound and allowing just two hits in six innings pitched. Anderson, just a few days after getting her first collegiate win, struck out eight batters in her second career victory.
The Gusties got on the board in the second inning, scoring two runs on two hits. Rachel Kawiecki (So., Richfield) was walked to start the inning and advanced to second off a single from Carly Nelson (Fy., Lake Crystal). Lauren Lambert (Fy., Woodbury) stepped up to the plate next and sent Kawiecki home with a double, while Nelson scored on a fielder’s choice to end the second with a 2-0 Gustie lead.
The Gusties added two more for the rest of the game, one in the third as a single from Lambert scored Kawiecki in the third, and Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury) scored an unearned run in the fifth. Lambert finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while Kawiecki totaled half of the team’s runs.
Gustavus 6, Manchester 3 | BOX SCORE
Pitching was once again the backbone of the Gusties’ win against Manchester, as Piper Otto (Jr., Brooklyn Park) picked up her second win of the year, pitching five innings and allowing only four hits in 17 at-bats. Chloe Smallfield (So., Papillion, Neb.), in two innings of relief, allowed three runs on five hits.
The Gusties started up right where they left off in the game before, scoring three of their six runs in the first inning. Lambert was walked with bases loaded to score Kayla Herda (So., Farmington). Isabel Reuvers (Jr., Medford) grounded out to third but scored Olafsson, advancing the batters once more. A walk on Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage) sent Kawiecki home for a 3-0 lead to end the first.
From there, the Gusties needed only one more inning to score their other three, getting an RBI double from Ruud for a 4-0 lead. Grace Gardner (Fy., Big Lake) returned the favor for Ruud, scoring the senior on a single to third. The Gusties’ final run came in dramatic fashion, as Kate Murray (Sr., Chanhassen) stole home for the Gusties’ sixth run.
Herda and Murray both finished with two hits to pace the Gusties, with Herda going 2-for-5 and Murray hitting a perfect 2-for-2 mark.
The Gusties are back Thursday, facing Luther and Millikin for a pair of afternoon games.