LEESBURG, Fla. – The Gustavus softball team on Sunday began its spring break trip in the Florida sun and came away with split results. The Gusties opened the day with an 8-0, five-inning win over Old Westbury before dropping a 7-0 decision against Allegheny, moving to 3-5 overall.
Gustavus 8, Old Westbury 0 | BOX SCORE
Chloe Smallfield (Fy., Papillion, Neb.) pitched four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit to pick up her second win of the season.
The Gusties struck early in the first as Madelyn Mueller (So., North Mankato) walked and later scored on a fielder’s choice. Kenzie Skuza (Sr., Princeton) then singled down the left field line to score Kaylyn Leonard (Sr., Plymouth) for a 2-0 lead. Gustavus then increased its lead to 6-0 in the second on three hits and an error. Kayla Herda (Fy., Farmington) hit a two-run single followed by a two-run double off the bat of Kayla Ruud (Jr., Savage).
After Amara Packey (Sr., Fridley) tossed a scoreless fifth inning, the Gusties forced the run-rule with two more in the bottom half. Ruud reached on an error and scored on a double by Skuza, followed by a walk-off RBI single from Payton Belt (So., Indianola, Iowa).
The one-two hitters in the lineup, Mueller and Leonard, led on the bases with two runs apiece. Skuza hit 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Gustavus 0, Allegheny 7 | BOX SCORE
After three scoreless innings, Allegheny finally got to Gustie starter Piper Otto (So., Brooklyn Park) with three runs in the fourth off three hits and two errors. A three-run homer in the fifth ended Otto’s day in the circle, giving way to Belt who finished the game. Belt allowed one more run in the sixth after a couple hits and an error.
The Gusties had seven hits in the game but also stranded eight runners. Mueller led at the plate, batting 2-for-4.
Gustavus next faces Kalamazoo and Bowdoin on Monday.