SAINT PETER, Minn. — The Gustavus softball team met their second nationally-ranked opponent of the season — and second in a row — hosting No. 14 Saint Benedict for a MIAC home opener. The Gusties impressed in game one, defeating the Bennies 6-3, but fell in the rematch, as the Bennies picked up the 7-2 victory.
Gustavus 6, Saint Benedict 3 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties were prepared for the challenge in game one, as junior Piper Otto (Brooklyn Park) took the mound for the start. Despite giving up a hit in her first at-bat to MIAC Player of the Week Gabby Spencer, Otto pitched four scoreless innings to give the Gusties a leg up on the No. 14 Bennies.
The Gustie bats came alive in the third inning, as an RBI double from Madi Mueller (Jr., North Mankato) scored Kate Murray (Sr., Chanhassen) to put the Gusties on the board first. And that was just the start of what was to come. Kayla Herda (So., Farmington) added a single and a stolen base, putting two on for Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury), who sent both home with a double to center.
The Gusties tacked on two more in the fourth, as Mueller led a two-out rally with her second double of the day, scoring Murray and Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage) for a 5-0 Gustie advantage.
The Bennies finally broke Otto’s scoreless streak in the fifth, picking up one run on three hits on an RBI single. Gustavus responded with what would be their final run, as a sacrifice fly from Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa) gave the Gusties six runs on the day.
In an attempt to keep things interesting, the Bennies scored two more in the sixth, but Otto held them at bay for the remainder of the game for the team’s first MIAC victory of the year.
Pitching the complete game, Otto finished with three runs on just nine hits. Murray led the Gusties at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs, while Mueller finished 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI.
“This was a huge statement win for our program,” said Head Coach Coley Ries Welter. “It’s a big confidence boost to beat a team of that caliber. We’ve had so many close finishes this season, to come out on top of one feels good.”
Gustavus 2, Saint Benedict 7 | BOX SCORE
The Bennies turned the tables in game two, coming for revenge out of the gate. Saint Benedict started the game with three runs on four hits in the first inning for an early 3-0 advantage.
Saint Benedict scored their final four runs of the day before the Gusties got a hit off pitcher Ellie Peterson, taking a 7-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Gusties scored their only runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Shelby Ringwelski (So., Forest Lake) picked up an RBI single and Olivia Guggenberger (Fy., Rosemount) put up a sacrifice bunt for run two.
That would be all the Gusties could amass for the rest of the game, as Peterson held them to just two more hits in the final three innings.
Maizie Anderson (Fy., Rosemount) got the start on the mound, surrendering six runs on seven hits for the loss. In 4.2 innings of relief, Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland) allowed just one run on four hits. Herda and Olafsson accounted for the Gusties’ only two hits, as Olafsson went 1-for-1 and Herda 1-for-3.
The Gusties, now 8-12 overall and 1-3 in MIAC play, are back in action Thursday, heading to Northfield to face St. Olaf for a MIAC doubleheader.