ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team made a statement Sunday, sweeping St. Catherine 2-0 and 2-1, leapfrogging the Wildcats into second place in the MIAC standings and clinching the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The conference playoff berth is the 13th consecutive for the Gusties as they have qualified for the MIAC tourney in every season (11) under the direction of Head Coach Jeff Annis. Gustavus is now 24-10 overall and 15-5 in the league with two regular season games left.
Gustavus 2, St. Kate’s 0 | BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY
The Gusties scored the game’s two runs in the first inning and held off the Wildcats the rest of the way. Emily Webb (Fy., Maple Lake, Minn.) led off the inning with a walk and later scored on a single by Nathalee Boissiere (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.). Hannah Heacox (Jr., Stillwater, Minn.) followed with an RBI single to plate Boissiere.
Heacox did the rest of the work in the circle, going the distance while allowing only two hits. The Gustie ace earned her 16th win after striking out 10 and walking four.
The Gusties handed St. Kate’s ace Krista Flugstad just her second loss of the season, dropping to 14-2. Jena Willis (Jr., Kalispell, Mt.) (2-3) and Boissiere (2-3, R, RBI) led the Gusties at the plate with two hits apiece.
Gustavus 2, St. Kate’s 1 | BOX SCORE
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the first frame on a pair of hits and a Gustavus error, but the home squad came right back in the second to tie the game. With two outs, Jessica Williams (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) singled and went first-to-home on a throwing error.
The Gusties scored the winning run in the fifth inning as Addy Nelsen (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) doubled and scored on scorching line-drive single down the left field line by Boissiere.
Willis tossed the first six innings and earned her sixth win of the season. She allowed one unearned run on seven hits, struck out two and walked three. Heacox came in relief with a runner on second base and no outs in the seventh. Heacox walked the first batter she faced, but buckled down and recorded three straight outs for the save.
Gustavus wraps up the regular season Tuesday with a make-up doubleheader at Concordia.