MANKATO, Minn. – The Gustavus Adolphus College softball team opened their 2026 season on Saturday against the Central College Dutch and the University of Northwestern Eagles. The Gusties fell 8-3 to the Dutch but then defeated the Eagles 5-3 to split their games on opening day.
Game One: Central
The Dutch jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the top half of the second inning, but Hailey Petzel put Gustavus on the board with the first home run of the season for the Gusties. The sophomore’s two-run bomb cut Central’s lead down to one as Gustavus trailed 3-2.
Central doubled in a run in the top of the third, but Gustavus answered right back in the bottom half of the inning. Caitlin Olafsson led off the third for the Gusties with a double, advanced to third on a ground out, and then scored on a sac fly by Paige Gritzmaker to bring Gustavus back to within one, trailing 4-3.
In the fourth inning, the Dutch scored on a wild pitch to take a 5-3 lead. Central added two more runs at the plate in the fifth while their arms held the Gusties scoreless the rest of the way to take an 8-3 win over Gustavus.
Maizie Anderson started for the Gusties, pitching four innings and striking out five. Petzel pitched the final three innings, striking out three while allowing just one hit and two runs, neither earned.
Game Two: Northwestern
UNW jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, scoring an unearned run. Three scoreless innings followed, but then Gustavus put together two key innings to get the win.
In the top of the fifth, the Gusties drew two walks to put two runners on with one out. A passed ball moved the runners up to second and third. Gritzmaker capitalized on the opportunity for Gustavus, driving in McNally from third to tie the game. Katelyn Kasper stepped up to the plate next and gave the Gusties a 2-1 lead with a sac fly to center, scoring Olivia Guggenberger from third. Taylor Katzenmeyer then singled to right to drive in Gritzmaker, putting Gustavus up 3-1.
The Gusties took a 5-1 lead in the fifth. Another passed ball moved up two Gusties to second and third, setting up Kasper to drive in both on an RBI single to left.
The Eagles scored twice more in the game, but Nicole Westover struck out the final Northwestern batter to earn a save and seal the 5-3 victory for Gustavus.
Ava Hamsund earned the win in the circle for the Gusties, pitching six innings while allowing just two runs.
Up Next
Gustavus returns to action on Sunday, February 15 with two more games in Mankato. The Gusties are set to take on UW-River Falls at 9:00 a.m. and Nebraska Wesleyan at 2:00 p.m.
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