SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Gustavus softball team earned its second conference sweep of the season Wednesday, beating Macalester 6-2 in game one before a 10-7 win in the nightcap. The Gusties improve to 9-13 overall and 4-4 in the MIAC while the Scots drop to 9-15 overall and 3-5 in the league.
Gustavus 6, Macalester 2 | BOX SCORE
Madelyn Mueller (So., North Mankato) scored the first run of the game in the first inning after a single, stolen base, and an RBI single from Kayla Ruud (Jr., Savage). The Scots answered in the bottom half after three singles.
Allie Skuza (Jr., Princeton) led off the second with a triple and then scored on a single by Isabel Reuvers (So., Medford). Greta Dahlen (Fy., West Des Moines, Iowa) then hit a two-run homer to center field for a 4-1 lead. The Gusties took a 5-1 advantage in the fourth as Mueller smacked a solo homer, her second of the season, and then added an insurance run in the fifth. Kaylyn Leonard (Sr., Plymouth) hit a bunt single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a double steal with Maria Aberle (Fy., Chaska) attempting to go to second base on the play.
Macalester scored a run in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly, but that was it for the home team.
Three Gusties had multiple hits – Mueller (2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR, SB), Ruud (2-3, RBI, BB), and Rachel Kawiecki (Fy., Richfield) (2-4). Piper Otto (So., Brooklyn Park) tossed the complete game with one earned run on eight hits and three strikeouts.
Gustavus 10, Macalester 7 | BOX SCORE
The Scots took an early 1-0 lead in the first before the Gusties answered in the third with a trio of runs. Kawiecki singled home Dahlen, who reached on a single as well. Leonard then singled down the right field line to score Ruud, who hit a double. Leonard scored the third run on a throwing error.
Macalester was able to tie the game in the bottom half with a pair of runs off three singles and a double.
Gustavus regained the lead in the fourth as Dahlen singled and later scored on an RBI groundout by Kawiecki. Once again, the Scots tied the game in the fifth after a walk and two singles, but the Gusties broke the game open in the sixth with six runs for a 10-4 advantage. Dahlen plated the first run with a single. Leonard followed with a double to score a pair of runs, and Payton Belt (So., Indianola, Iowa) knocked in another run with a base hit. Reuvers brought home the final two runs with a single up the middle. The inning featured seven hits by the Gusties.
Macaleter made things interesting in the seventh frame, scoring three runs on as many hits and an error, but the Gusties were able to end the threat.
Dahlen and Ruud led the hit parade for the Gusties. Dahlen hit 4-for-5 with three runs, a double, and an RBI. Ruud batted 4-for-5 with two runs and a double. The Gusties tied a season high with 17 hits in the game.
Chloe Smallfield (Fy., Papillion, Neb.) started the game and pitched three innings with three earned runs on six hits. Belt finished the game, allowing three earned runs on six hits and a strikeout.
Gustavus next hosts St. Olaf for a MIAC doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. Friday.