SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team fell in game one of a doubleheader with Macalester on Saturday but bounced back in game two to earn the split and improve to 10-14 overall and 5-11 in the MIAC.
Gustavus 2, Macalester 6 | BOX SCORE
In the first game, the Gusties found themselves down 3-0 going into the third inning. Macalester extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth as the Gustie struggled to get things going at the plate. Macalester added one more run in the top of the seventh to make it 6-0.
Gustavus began to rally in the bottom of the seventh, when two walks and an error loaded the bases. Two more walks led to runs for the Gusties, but the Scots were able to get the final out and secure the 6-2 victory.
Ashley Neuenfeldt (Sr., Bloomington) suffered the loss in the first game, going six innings and giving up 11 hits and six runs. Piper Otto (Fy., Brooklyn Park) led the Gusties at the plate going 3-for-3.
Gustavus 3, Macalester 0 | BOX SCORE
In game two, Otto led the Gusties from the circle, going all seven innings and not allowing any runs, en route to a 3-0 win. Neuenfeldt led the offense, going 2-for-3.
“Piper did a good job of getting ahead and making the pitches hers’ when she was up in the count,” said Head Coach Coley Ries. “We have been working on those 0-2 and 1-2 pitches because those have hurt us sometimes in the past, but she did a good job of keeping those pitches off the plate and keeping hitters guessing.”
Gustavus got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Madelyn Mueller (Fy. North Mankato) reached on a fielder’s choice and drove in Kaylyn Leonard (Jr., Plymouth) to put the Gusties up 1-0. This lead carried into the fourth inning, when Allie Skuza (So., Princeton) drove in two more runs to put Gustavus up 3-0. Solid pitching and defense helped the Gusties keep the Scots off the scoreboard the remainder of the game and complete the split.
“We learned from each other’s at-bats in game two,” added Ries. “We did what we needed to do and didn’t wait to figure things out at the plate. We’ve worked on making adjustments quicker, and that’s what hurt us in the first game but got it done in the second.”
The Gusties will next be in action Monday when they travel to Northfield, Minn. to play St. Olaf in a double header beginning at 3:30 p.m.