ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team split two games to start its season Saturday at the Rochester Regional Bubble, losing to Coe College 10-1 in five innings and rebounding with a 4-3 win over UW-La Crosse.
“Our girls played really well today overall,” Head Coach Britt Stewart said. “It was great to finally get into game mode and compete. We battled through adversity today in game one and were able to see some new players in different positions for both games. We struggled game one on the mound and made the adjustment in game two with Ashley Neuenfeldt (Fy., Bloomington, Minn.). It was fun to see her go out in her first college performance in the circle and compete the way she did. She was in complete control that whole game. Emily Carlson (So., Burnsville, Minn.) called a really great game as well behind the plate.”
Coe put up a couple runs in the first inning and never looked back in a quick five-inning game. The Cohawks added a run in the second, five in the third, and two more in the fourth. Gustavus’s lone run came in the fifth inning as Emily Webb (Jr., Maple Lake, Minn.) doubled and scored on a single by Neuenfeldt.
Aly Freeman (So., Omaha, Neb.) suffered the loss after two and two-thirds innings. She allowed five runs on two hits, seven walks, and four strikeouts. Ariel Debeer (Fy., Luverne, Minn.) made her college debut in relief, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk in an inning and a third. Neuenfeldt led the Gusties at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Carlson’s infield RBI single in the fifth inning proved to be the game-winning hit as the Gusties picked up their first victory of the young season.
UW-La Crosse opened the top of the first with a run, but the Gusties answered in the bottom half as Freeman hit a ground-rule double to score Sidney Welp (So., St. Peter, Minn.). In the second inning, Welp doubled and scored on an error.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on three hits and an error and held that advantage until the fifth. With two outs and nobody on base, Sarah Pederson (So., Blaine, Minn.) walked, Webb singled, and Welp followed with an RBI single to center, setting up the game-winning hit by Carlson.
Welp (2-4, 2R, RBI, BB) and Neuenfeldt (2-3, BB) led the Gusties at the plate, each with a pair of hits. Neuenfeldt also went the distance in the circle with three runs allowed on eight hits. She struck out seven and walked zero in her collegiate debut.
“Solid defense, great pitching, and putting a few hits together helped us accumulate the team win in game two,” Stewart said. “I am proud of the way we came out today and excited to keep progressing this season.”
Gustavus faces Nebraska Wesleyan at 11 a.m. tomorrow followed by a 1 p.m. game against Carroll.