The Gustavus softball team got a couple of stellar pitching performances from starters Erin Truebenbach and Kate Rentschler on its way to a sweep over the College of Saint Benedict on Wednesday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn. Truebenbach gave up one run on eight hits in a 7-1 win in game one, and Rentschler recorded her second consecutive complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win in the nightcap. Gustavus finishes the regular season with an overall record of 25-12-1 and a MIAC mark of 18-3-1. Saint Benedict ends its season with an overall record of 16-20 and a MIAC record of 12-10.
In game one, Gustavus was forced to play from behind after the Blazer Devin Bowlin singled to knock in Carissa Hancock in the top of the second inning. The run would be the last Saint Ben’s would get, as Truebenbach shut out the Blazers in the remaining five innings. Truebenbach improved to 9-4 on the season with the win, striking out four batters and walking one. Saint Ben’s would leave four runners stranded following its run in the second inning.
The Gusties would tie the game with a run on an RBI single by Prunty in the bottom of the third inning. They then broke the game open with a five-run, five-hit inning in the fifth to go up 6-1. Jenny Ewert, Kirsten Prunty, MacKenzie Dalton, Kelly Myers, and Rentschler all notched an RBI in the inning. Gustavus added another run in the sixth inning to go up 7-1 when Dani Cattrysse lined a single up the middle to plate Emily Wendorff.
Four different Gusties recorded multiple hits in the game, as Jenny Ewert led the way, going 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Kirsten Prunty went 2-for-3 with two RBI, Dalton went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, and Lisa Klass went 2-for-4 with a double and a run. Rachel Nelson got the loss for the Blazers in game one, giving up six runs on 11 hits in five innings.
The Gusties didn’t have the good fortune of a big inning in game two, and were forced to grind out a one-run win. Rentschler was on her game throughout the contest, allowing just two hits that both came in the sixth inning. Rentschler finishes the regular season with a 16-7 record and an ERA of 3.14. She has allowed just one earned run in her last 29 innings pitched.
The only run of the game came on a two-out single up the middle by Rentschler in the bottom of the third inning that scored Lisa Klass from second base. The Blazers would threaten in the top of the seventh inning, as Lexi Alm reached third base with two outs and Kelsey McQuillan at the plate. McQuillan laced what looked to be a liner over the head of center fielder Brittany Brenke, yet the rookie speedster was able track the ball down and come up with a leaping over-the-shoulder grab to ice the game. Both squads left four runners stranded in the game, as St. Ben’s Trisha Johnson suffered the loss in a four-hit complete-game performance.
It was Senior Day at the Gusties Softball Field as seven seniors were honored for their dedication and commitment to the Gustavus softball program over the past four years. The Gustavus Athletic and Sports Information Departments would like to extend a sincere thanks to this year’s seniors Kirsten Prunty, Amy Lynch, Emily Wendorff, Kelly Myers, Jenny Ewert, Erin Truebenbach, and Dani Cattrysse.
The Gustavus softball team has secured the second seed in the MIAC Playoffs and will take on Saint Mary’s in the first round on Friday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. in Arden Hills, Minn. Play-by-play broadcaster Tom Wheeler of KNUJ will be on hand for the live call of the Friday’s contest.