The Gustavus softball team earned a MIAC sweep of Saint Benedict by the scores of 8-0 in game one and 5-2 in game two on Saturday in St. Peter to earn its 20th win of the season. Emily Wendorff had her best day at the plate as a Gustie, as she went 3-for-5 and drove in six runs. Callie Nelsen earned the victory in game one, allowing just one hit, while Betsie Collins picked up the win in game two.
Game one was deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning as Gustavus loaded the bases with consecutive singles from Paige Hays and Julie Mahre, followed by an Andrea Brown walk. Rachael Click hit a single, driving in two runs to give the Gusties an early 2-0 lead. Brown was called out at the plate after a failed suicide squeeze attempt, but Emily Klein reached second base after laying down the bunt. Emily Wendorff, then, ripped a two-RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
With a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, Wendorff delivered another two-RBI single with Click and Klein already on second and third base. Leigh Weber advanced Wendorff to third base with a single, while Kirsten Prunty drove in the game-winning run with a line drive off of Saint Benedict pitcher Andrea Fahey.
The four runs scored by Gustavus in the third inning was more than enough support for Callie Nelsen as she allowed one hit in the first inning against the Blazer offense. Nelsen posted two strikeouts and zero walks en route to her ninth win of the season.
The Gustie offense kept rolling game two, as Gustavus jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning. Andrea Brown scored on a suicide squeeze play executed by Emily Klein, who was safe at first, for the first run of the game. Then, Wendorff hit her third two-RBI single of the doubleheader to put the Gusties ahead 3-0. Leigh Weber drove in Wendorff with a single combined with a Blazer error for the fourth run of the inning. Gustavus scored another run in the fourth inning, and looked to be putting together another rally when Click was got in a rundown between third base and home plate to end the inning.
Saint Benedict responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning, as Abby Richardson hit a RBI-double that scored Beth Hanson and Nicki Holmes drove in Richardson. However, Gustie pitcher Betsie Collins sat down the side in the sixth inning and allowed only a two-out single in the seventh to earn her seventh win of the season.
In addition to Wendorff’s 3-for-5, six-RBI performance, Rachael Click went 5-for-7 in the series with three RBI, while compiling nine assists and zero errors.
Gustavus, which improved to 20-6 overall and 10-4 in league play, will host Carleton College on Sunday at 1 p.m.