NORTHFIELD, Minn. — The Gustavus softball team suffered a MIAC sweep at the hands of St. Olaf Thursday, falling 8-0 in five innings in game one of the doubleheader and 5-4 in the second. The Gusties fall to 8-14 and 1-5 in MIAC play.
Gustavus 0, St. Olaf 8 | BOX SCORE
Game one went in favor of the home team, as the Oles erupted for eight runs to the Gusties’ zero to earn the MIAC shutout in just five innings. The Oles struck first in the second inning, taking advantage of a sacrifice bunt and a Gustie error to score run one. Runs two and three came off a two-RBI single shortly after for an early 3-0 Ole lead.
St. Olaf tacked on one more in the third on an RBI single, but put on their best performance in the fifth, getting four runs in the inning for the eventual 8-0 final. The Oles’ starter on the mound, Jenna Peschel, held the Gusties to just two hits through the entire game.
On the mound for Gustavus, Piper Otto (Jr., Brooklyn Park) allowed eight runs off 10 hits. The Gusties’ two hits came off the bats of Madi Mueller (Jr., North Mankato) and Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage), who each went 1-for-2.
Gustavus 4, St. Olaf 5 | BOX SCORE
Game two was a heartbreaking loss for the Gusties, as the Oles made a walk-off comeback in the seventh inning to win the game.
The Oles once again took an early lead in the game, getting two runs in the second off a two-RBI single. The Gusties though, earned their first run of the day in the next inning on an RBI bunt from Kayla Herda (So., Farmington) scoring Mueller, who was waiting in scoring position after a double to left.
St. Olaf added a single home run in the third inning for a 3-1 lead after three innings. The Gustie bats came alive in the fourth, as Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa) started the inning with a single to left. Ruud picked up an RBI double just after, scoring Dahlen to bring the Gusties within one of St. Olaf. And the momentum didn’t stop there.
Mueller reached on a walk, followed by a fielder’s choice to put Herda on base and advance Mueller. Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury) gave the Gusties their first lead of the game — and first lead of the day — scoring Mueller and Herda on a two-RBI single to center. The Gusties ended the inning with a 4-3 advantage over St. Olaf.
The Gusties held that advantage until the final inning of play, when St. Olaf scored the tying- and game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. The Oles picked up the 4-4 tying run on a Gustie error, and an eventual RBI single ended the game with a 5-4 advantage for the Oles.
Pitching the complete game for the Gusties, Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland) allowed five runs on six hits. In stark comparison to game one, the Gusties strung together 12 hits throughout the rematch, posting five players with a multiple hits. Olafsson and Mueller each went 2-for-3 in game two, with Olafsson picking up two RBI.
The Gusties are back tomorrow afternoon, hosting Macalester for a MIAC doubleheader at 3:30 in Saint Peter.