Parker Burman-
This past weekend, the Gustavus Softball team traveled to Saint Paul to square off with conference rival Hamline for a two-game set. The Gusties would have a great weekend as the offense managed 16 runs to help Gustavus to a pair of victories, moving them to 10-12 on the season but to 4-0 in conference play.
“Coming out with a sweep is always a good feeling. We played great in all areas of the game. We hit very well and created opportunities to score. Our defense was just as solid as our offense, allowing us to come away with 2 wins. As a team, we will look to build off of these games and carry this momentum into games ahead,” First-year Peyton Stevermer said.
In game one, Gustavus started the scoring in the top half of the second inning off of a fielder’s choice bunt from Stevermer. Gustavus tacked on two more runs in the top of the third thanks to a triple off the barrel of Sophomore Caitlin Olafsson. First-year Carly Olson followed up Olafsson’s triple with a single of her own to left-center to drive in another Gustie run.
Stevermer said on her bunt, “My first thought was to get the bunt down. The most important part was scoring the run, which allowed us to score first. This put pressure on Hamline and created momentum for us. This first run just fueled us into scoring more and eventually winning both games.”
Olafsson said of her triple, “In RBI situations I feel that I’m able to capitalize by having a quality at-bat. With that being the focus it takes the pressure off getting hits and just having intention behind each pitch and swing”
Hamline scratched across a run in the bottom of the third to make the 3-1 in favor of Gustavus. This attempt at a comeback by Hamline was quickly extinguished when the Gusties scored two more runs in the fifth to push the score to 5-1. The RBIs were collected again by Stevermer who doubled to right-center. The sixth inning began with a triple off the bat of Senior Madi Mueller, who subsequently scored on a sacrifice fly to right from Sophomore Olivia Guggenberger.
Just as they had in game one, the Gusties scored first in the second game of the doubleheader. In the top of the first inning, Gustavus pushed across four runs to give them the early 4-0 lead. However, Hamline did manage to answer in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own to make the score 4-2.
The third and fourth innings would be quiet as Gustavus only managed to score one run in the fourth inning as pitching and defense began to take over. This takeover would be brief and the Gustavus offense would again explode for four more runs in the top of the fifth, pushing their lead to 9-2. Hamline again answered, yet this time, it was only a single run, and that one run would be all Hamline could muster as they would not have a comeback. In the sixth inning to secure another insurance run as Sophomore Taylor Katzenmeyer stole home to make the score 10-3, which would be the final.
Every Gustie in the lineup managed to record a hit on the day and starting pitcher First-year Ava Hamsund struck out two on the way to her second career conference win.
“The goal going forward is to get better at each opportunity we get. Continually improving and showing up will guide us to becoming better players and as a team. Our commitment to working hard and supporting each other will take us towards our long-term goals. As the season moves on, we will look to improve and get one step closer to playoffs,” Stevermer said.
“I thought my start went well as I had solid defense behind me and an offense that kept putting up runs throughout the game which made it easier on the pitcher,” Hamsund said.
After a strong weekend against Hamline, the Gusties will look to build on that success as they play in Minneapolis against rival Augsburg on Saturday for a doubleheader.
“I feel confident about my hitting performance, the goal is always to go up and have a quality at bat. I think I learned something from each at-bat as well as my teammates having good at-bats which is contagious,” Olafsson said.
Good at-bats are exactly what the Gustie softball team will be looking for on Saturday in their doubleheader. They roll into Minneapolis with an undefeated MIAC record, and they will look to keep it rolling against the Eagles.