The Gustavus softball team opened its 2006 season by dropping two games to #23 St. Scholastica last Saturday at the Softball Dome in Rosemount, Minn. The Gusties lost 1-0 in game one and 14-7 in game two. Sophomore Julie Mahre went 4-for-7 at the plate with two runs scored and two rbi to lead the Gusties.
Coach Jeff Annis saw his squad battle St. Scholastica straight up in game one, with the Saints scoring the winning run on a hit-batsman with bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior Joyce DeWitz (Good Thunder, Minn./Mapleton) threw all seven innings for Gustavus. She allowed four hits while striking out nine and walking seven batters. Julie Mahre went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Audrey Lenoch went 1-for-2 with a double. Others picking up a hit for Gustavus were Emily Klein, Whitney Bartolo, and Mary Furlong.
In game two, the Gusties led 7-6 through four innings, but the Saints scored two in the fifth and five in the sixth to pull away for the victory. Emily Klein got Gustavus off to a fast start with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was the first home run of Klein’s collegiate career. Julie Mahre led the team at the plate once again with two hits in three at-bats with two runs scored and two rbi. Audrey Lenoch was one-for-four, but she drove in two important runs with a double in the fourth inning. Joyce DeWitz pitched the first four innings allowing six runs on seven hits. Sarah Manke pitched the final three innings allowing eight runs on 12 hits.
Gustavus will take this next weekend off before heading back to the Rosemount Softball Dome for a doubleheader against #16 UW-Eau Claire on Sunday, February 12.