MANKATO, Minn. — Add another big win for the Gusties to the list. Gustavus picked up its third win of the year — and third with more than 10 runs — in a Friday night doubleheader against Bethany Lutheran at the MSU Mankato Maverick All-Sports Dome. The Gusties fell in the late-night game two, losing 13-4 in ten innings.
Gustavus 11, Bethany Lutheran 1 | BOX SCORE
The Gusties came into the game swinging, or rather, walking, as Kayla Herda (So., Farmington) and Caitlin Olafsson (Fy., Woodbury) earned two walks on the Gusties’ first two at-bats. Rachel Kawiecki (So., Richfield), in her first game back from her transition from basketball, advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt out to third. A single up the middle from Carly Nelson (Fy., Lake Crystal) would give the Gusties their first two runs of the game before the end of the first.
And it was more of the same at the top of the second, as Kate Murray (Sr., Chanhassen) walked to start the inning, and eventually added the Gusties’ third run of the day, scoring on a single from Olafsson.
The Gusties tacked on two more in the fourth, taking advantage of a Viking error that allowed Herda to score and Olafsson to advance to second on a single. Kawiecki sent Olafsson home for a 5-0 lead. Thanks to a Viking error once again, Kayla Ruud (Sr., Savage) added one more for the Gusties in the fifth.
Bethany Lutheran finally broke through Maize Anderson (Fy., Rosemount) on the mound, scoring their sole run in the bottom of the fifth. The Gusties responded, though, scoring five in the sixth for the eventual 11-1 final. Olafsson walked to start the inning, only to advance to third and score on two more errors by the Vikings. A double from Greta Dahlen (So., West Des Moines, Iowa) sent more Gusties home, scoring Taylor Katzenmeyer (Fy., Hopkins) and Ruud. Olivia Guggenberger (Fy., Rosemount) wrapped things up for the Gusties, as a single from Isabel Reuvers (Jr., Medford) sealed the final run of the game.
Anderson picked up an impressive win, allowing only two hits through the whole game and striking out 10 batters in 19 at-bats. Olafsson led the way at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three runs and an RBI.
Gustavus 4, Bethany Lutheran 13
The late-night rematch was a journey for both teams, as pitching proved to be the difference for the Vikings, who held the Gusties to just two hits through the first seven innings. Both teams played to a stalemate three times, as the Gusties tied the game at 2-2 at the bottom of the seventh. Each team added a run in both the eighth and the ninth to keep things tied into inning 10.
And the 10th inning proved to be just what the Vikings needed, as they erupted for 9 runs to end the game at 13-4.
A single from Olafsson sent Herda home to start the game with a 1-0 lead at the end of the first. The Vikings responded in the fourth, scoring two of their own. Olafsson advanced to third off a single thanks to a Viking error, and Kawiecki sent her home to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Each team added a run in the eighth and ninth, with Shelby Ringwelski (So., Forest Lake) and Herda scoring for the Gusties. But it wouldn’t be enough to keep pace with the hot bats of the Vikings in the 10th, who scored more runs in one inning than both teams combined in the entire game.
Piper Otto (Jr., Brooklyn Park) pitched innings one through eight, allowing four runs on 10 hits. Marah Hulke (Fy., Courtland) came in as relief, suffering the loss and giving up nine runs on six hits. Olafsson was the Gusties’ only offensive hope, going 3-for-4 from the plate, scoring a run, and adding two more RBIs to her total for the day.
The Gusties are back Tuesday, beginning their Florida spring trip where they will play eight games throughout the week.