SAINT PETER, Minn. — In their final regular season conference matchup, the Gusties split with Carleton, with each game decided by only one run. Game one saw a walk-off 4-3 victory in favor of the Black and Gold, while game two went to the visitors, 2-1.
Gustavus 4, Carleton 3 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties got the win over Carleton in game one in dramatic fashion, waiting until the bottom of the seventh to plate all four of their runs. Both teams played scoreless through five innings, until the Knights scored three off pitcher Piper Otto (Jr., Brooklyn Park) in the top of the sixth.
The Gusties waited until it counted most to cross home plate, as a two-out rally led by Olivia Guggenberger (Fy., Rosemount) helped Gustavus over the hump. Madi Mueller (Jr., North Mankato) led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single to left from Kayla Herda (So., Farmington). Two outs later, Mueller scored on a passed ball for the Gusties’ first run of the day. Lauren Lambert (Fy., Woodbury) walked to put runners on the corners for Guggenberger, who sent a single to right to even the score 3-3, bringing up Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage). Ruud, who was 0-for-2 on the day, saved her best at-bat for last, sending a walk-off single to left to score Guggenberger and defeat the Knights 4-3.
Otto picked up another win on the mound, allowing three runs on six hits. Herda led the Gusties at the plate, with two of the team’s six hits.
Gustavus 1, Carleton 2 | BOX SCORE
Game two was a low-scoring affair, as the two teams combined for three runs off nine total hits. Carleton eventually walked away with the victory, thanks to a two-run fifth that the Gusties were unable to overcome.
Gustavus scored the first run of the game in the third, as Kate Murray (Sr., Chanhassen) scored on a throw to take a 1-0 lead. The Knights responded in the fifth, getting back-to-back RBI singles to take a 2-1 advantage over the home team.
The Gusties once again entered the bottom of the seventh looking for heroics at the plate, this time needing only two runs to complete the victory. And just as they had in the first game of the day, the Gusties found themselves down two outs to start the inning. Unfortunately for the Gusties, the second comeback of the day was unsuccessful, as all three batters went down in order to end the game.
The Gustie pitchers gave the team a fighting chance, as the duo of Maizie Anderson (Fy., Rosemount) and Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland) allowed only six hits off Carleton bats. At the plate, Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa), Herda, and Ruud combined for the team’s three hits in the second game.
The Gusties, now 21-17 overall and 14-8 in conference play, wrap up the regular season with a non-conference doubleheader against Martin Luther on Thursday.