MANKATO, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team won its third- and fourth-straight games, sweeping Concordia by scores of 6-0 and 7-2 on a rainy day in the MSU-Mankato dome. Gustie pitchers Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland) and Maizie Anderson (Fy., Rosemount) led the way, both pitching complete games and combining for only three hits against.
Gustavus 6, Concordia 0 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties started the day under the dome off strong, scoring six runs and holding the Cobbers off for the shutout. Gustavus scored a run in innings one, two, and three, before totaling three in the fourth.
The Gusties got on the board thanks to a sacrifice fly from Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury), scoring Madi Mueller (Jr., North Mankato), who was hit by a pitch to lead off the game before stealing second. The Gusties’ second run of the day came thanks to Kayla Herda (So., Farmington), who sent an RBI single to left, scoring Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa) who led the inning off with a single of her own.
With a 2-0 lead, Lauren Lambert (So., Farmington) and Shelby Ringwelski (So., Forest Lake) posted back-to-back singles to start inning three, and each advanced a base thanks to a sacrifice ground-out by Olivia Guggenberger (Fy., Rosemount). Dahlen sent Lambert home for the team’s third run, picking up an RBI on a sacrifice hit to third.
The Gusties doubled their score in inning four, scoring three runs on two hits. Mueller walked to start the inning and stole her second base of the day to get in scoring position for Herda, who sent her home on an RBI double to left. Inspired by Herda’s heroics, Olafsson belted her own RBI double to score Herda in the next at-bat. A costly error from the Cobbers sent Olafsson home for the eventual 6-0 final.
Hulke was dominant on the mound for the Gusties in her second career MIAC victory, allowing just two hits and one walk in the game and striking out six batters. At the plate, Herda and Olafsson each tallied two hits, a run, and 2 RBI.
Gustavus 7, Concordia 2 | BOX SCORE
After being held scoreless through seven in the game before, the Cobbers were eager to make a difference early. Concordia took advantage of a Gustie error to get run one of the day, taking a 1-0 lead over Gustavus in the top of the first.
The Cobbers held that lead until the bottom of the second when the Gusties evened the score at one a piece. Dahlen was first to get on base in the inning after being hit by a pitch. Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage) belted a ground-rule double to left, advancing Dahlen to third. Kate Murray (Sr., Chanhassen) evened things up with an RBI single up the middle, tying the score 1-1.
The Cobbers responded, scoring on a wild pitch to regain the lead in the third. To keep the back-and-forth effort alive, Herda belted the only home run of the day, sending the ball to the dome wall to bring the Gusties back even at 2-2 in the third.
The Gusties’ remaining runs came in the fourth inning, as a two-out rally scored five runs in favor of the home team. Murray started the effort, scoring pinch runner Taylor Katzenmeyer (Fy., Hopkins) on an RBI single to left. Mueller walked, bringing Herda up to bat, who sent Murray home with an RBI single to center to bring the lead to 4-2. Another RBI single, this time off the bat of Olafsson, scored Mueller. The Gusties took advantage of a passed ball to advance runners, and eventually scored Herda and Olafsson on a Cobber error for runs six and seven.
Taking a page out of Hulke’s book, Maizie Anderson was unstoppable for the Gusties, allowing only one hit in seven innings pitched. Anderson struck out a career-high 11 batters, including five straight strikeouts to end the game. Herda rounded out game two going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs and two RBI, while Murray finished game two 2-for-2 with two RBI of her own.
The Gusties, now 12-14 and 5-5 in conference play, will face Hamline for a doubleheader Saturday, once again playing at the MSU-Mankato Maverick Sports Dome with start times of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.