ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College softball team split an MIAC doubleheader with Hamline University on Tuesday afternoon at Meredith Field. The Gusties fell in game one 8-4, but bounced back with a strong 7-0 shutout of the Pipers in game two, handing Hamline its first conference loss of the season in the process. With the split, Gustavus is now 13-7 overall and 4-2 in the MIAC, while the Pipers move to 12-8 overall and 5-1 in the conference.
GAME ONE: Hamline 8, Gustavus 4
After earning MIAC Pitcher of the Week honors for the second straight week yesterday, Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) returned to the circle for the third consecutive game, but wasn’t her usual self. The Gustie ace surrendered five earned runs on seven hits in five innings pitched, just two days after pitching 15 strong innings in a sweep over Saint Benedict.
The Gusties didn’t get on the board until the fourth inning when Emily Webb (Fy., Maple Lake, Minn.) tripled and was driven in on a single from Brooke Willemsen (Jr., Hamburg, Minn.). However, at that point, the Gusties were already in a five-run hole after giving up two runs in the first inning and three in the third. The Black and Gold added two runs in the fifth and another in the seventh, but it wouldn’t be enough to overcome a Piper offense that produced six extra-base hits, including four doubles and two home runs.
GAME TWO: Gustavus 7, Hamline 0
The Gusties suffered no after-effects from game one and behind Jena Willis’s (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.) complete game shutout, earned a 7-0 victory to avoid the sweep. Willis went the distance, allowing just five hits while striking out two and walking none.
Gustavus didn’t wait to produce offense in the finale, as a Hamline fielding error with the bases loaded in the first frame gave the Gusties their first run. Gustavus added another in the third, but did a majority of its damage in the fifth, with Willis helping her own cause on a two-run homer with one out to help the Gusties take a 4-0 lead. The Black and Gold earned their other runs on a bases-loaded walk to Ashley Beise (Fy., Loretto, Minn.) and a two-run single from Rachel Malo (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.).
Up Next
The Gusties host three doubleheaders yet this week, including tomorrow’s twin bill against Macalester. Game one begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Gustie Softball Field.