The Gustavus softball team continued its tough early season schedule with two losses to #16 UW-Eau Claire (2-9, 4-7) at the Rosemount Softball Dome on Sunday morning. Audrey Lenoch led the Gusties in hitting as she went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI in the two games.
In game one, the Gusties ran into a hot-hitting Blugold team that would pound out 13 hits including 11 against Gustavus ace Joyce DeWitz. UW-Eau Claire broke the game open with a five-run second inning. Allison Haase pickedu up the big hit of the game for the Gusties as she drove the ball out of the park for her first collegiate home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Joyce DeWitz suffered the loss on the mound as she allowed 13 hits and nine earned runs in five complete innings of work.
In game two, the Gusties stayed close to the Blugolds due to some clutch hitting, solid defense, and consistent pitching by Bree Lindenberg. UW-Eau Claire jumped out to a 4-1 lead through two innings, however Audrey Lenoch stroked a clutch two-out double in the top of the third inning that scored Emily Klein and Julie Mahre and cut the lead to 4-3. The Blugolds would add single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to hold on for the 7-4 win. Gustavus scored its final run in the top of the fifth when Audrey Lenoch laced a two-out single to left field that scored Abby Bernstein. Lindenberg tossed all six innings for the Gusties allowing eight hits and five earned runs.
The Gusties will not play again until Sunday, March 26 when they face DePauw University and Oberliln College on their spring break trip to Orlando, Florida.