ST. PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team was held scoreless in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Gustie Softball Field, losing by scores of 5-0 and 3-0 against the University of St. Thomas on Strikeout Cancer day.
The doubleheader sweep demotes the Gustavus record to 21-13 overall and 8-8 in the MIAC, while St. Thomas improves to 29-7 and 14-4 MIAC.
St. Thomas 5, Gustavus 0 (Box)
Tommie pitchers Jessica Eppenberger and Sammy Hogan combined for a two-hit shutout while the offense provided five runs off 10 hits to take game one over the Gusties.
Hannah Heacox (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) started in the pitcher’s circle, giving up the eventual game-winning run in the second inning. A leadoff double and an errant throw allowed St. Thomas to grab a 1-0 lead.
The Tommies then added two runs in the third and one in each the sixth and seventh innings to solidify the 5-0 victory.
Jena Willis (Sr., Kalispell, Mt.) stepped into the pitcher’s circle to relieve Heacox in the sixth inning. She pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up a run off two hits.
Heacox suffered the loss on the mound as she allowed four runs, three earned in 5.2 innings pitched as her record falls to 11-8 on the season.
Aly Freeman (Fy., Omaha, Neb.) (1-2, 2B, BB) and Kim Kurtzweg (Jr., Arlington, Minn.) (1-3) recorded the two base hits for the Gusties.
St. Thomas 3, Gustavus 0 (Box)
The Gustie offense was limited again in game two and the defense committed four errors as the Tommies scored early to take the series sweep.
St. Thomas went up 2-0 in the first inning and added another in the third inning while Sammy Hogan went the distance on the rubber, allowing five Gustavus hits in the complete game shutout.
Jena Willis notched her 10th complete game of the season and allowed just one earned run despite suffering the loss in the pitcher’s circle, moving her record to 10-5 on the season.
Heacox, Freeman, Kurtzweg, Ashley Beise (So., Loretto, Minn.), and Sidney Welp (Fy., St. Peter, Minn.) each tallied one hit at the plate.
The Black and Gold will look to get back on track tomorrow in Northfield, Minn. for another MIAC doubleheader at St. Olaf College. Game one is set for a 1 p.m. start.