NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team moved into third place in the MIAC standings by sweeping Carleton on Saturday. The Gusties won by scores of 5-2 and 8-2, improving to 22-10 overall and 13-5 in the league.
Gustavus 5, Carleton 2 | BOX SCORE
Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) earned her 15th win on the rubber in game one, allowing two earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Nathalee Boissiere (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) led the team at the plate, batting 2-for-3 with two RBI and a double.
The Gusties scored all five of their runs in the first two innings. Emily Webb (Fy., Maple Lake, Minn.) scored the first run after drawing a walk and crossing home on a groundout. Boissiere then drove in the second run with a double, giving Gustavus a 2-0 lead after the first frame. In the second, the Gusties tacked on three runs on three hits and took advantage of one Carleton error. Webb doubled to left field, scoring Jessica Williams (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) for the first run of the inning. Webb then scored on an error, and Boissiere drove in another run with a single to center.
The Knights scored one run in the first and another in the sixth.
Gustavus 8, Carleton 2 | BOX SCORE
Jena Willis (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.) took the circle in game two and earned her fifth win of the season after allowing two earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and one walk. Boissiere led the team offensively once again, hitting 2-for-3 with two runs, four RBI, two home runs, and a walk. Rachel Malo (Jr., Owatonna, Minn.) also had a pair of hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk.
Carleton took a 1-0 lead in the first on a pair of hits, but the Gusties immediately answered in the second with three runs on as many hits. Boissiere homered to left center for the first run. Addy Nelsen (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) later hit a two-run double.
Gustavus took a 4-1 advantage in the fifth as Kaitlyn Bicek (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) homered to right center. The visitors then broke the game open in the sixth with a quartet of runs. Bicek drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. After a walk to Willis, Boissiere came to the plate and belted her second homer of the day – a three-run shot over the left field fence.
The Knights scored a run in the seventh, but it was too little, too late.
The Gusties return home tomorrow for a 1 p.m. make-up doubleheader against St. Catherine where they will honor their five seniors for Senior Day.