NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Senior Julie Graf threw a five-inning no-hitter in game one and classmate Ally Bode drove in the winning run in walk-off fashion in the ninth inning of game two, as the No. 22-ranked St. Olaf College softball team swept visiting Gustavus Adolphus College by scores of 13-0 and 3-2 on Monday afternoon at Mabel Shirley Field.

In the opener, Graf tossed her second no-hitter of the season and the seventh of her career and St. Olaf (17-3, 15-1 MIAC) scored 12 runs in the third inning to cruise to the run-rule win over Gustavus (10-16, 5-13 MIAC). In the Oles' first extra-innings game of the year, Bode plated senior Kaelin Sbrocco with a ground ball to second, as St. Olaf overcame a late 2-1 deficit to complete the sweep in game two.

No. 22 St. Olaf 13, Gustavus 0 | Box Score

Already leading 1-0, St. Olaf exploded for 12 runs in the third inning of game one on its way to a five-inning victory. Graf walked just one batter and struck out 13 over her five-inning no-hitter to earn her first of two wins on the day.

The Oles got on the board first in the bottom of the second, as Hannah Matthies singled to shortstop to start the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch, and came around to score on a double by Kaleigh Santmyer.

St. Olaf broke the game wide open in the third, scoring 12 runs on 12 hits in the inning. Matthies drove in three runs in the inning with a pair of doubles, Abby Grismer had a two-run double, and Tarah DeCroock added a three-run home run in the frame.

The only real trouble Graf faced came in the first half inning when the Gusties had a runner on third with one out, but the senior had four strikeouts in the inning to put a zero on the board. Graf also had four strikeouts in the fifth to wrap up the win.



No. 22 St. Olaf 3, Gustavus 2 | Box Score

After Sbrocco and DeCroock started the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back singles to put runners on second and third with nobody out, Bode bounced a grounder to second and Sbrocco beat the throw home to give St. Olaf a walk-off win and the doubleheader sweep. The victory extended the Oles' perfect home record to 12-0 this season.

In a 2-2 game, Sbrocco started the home half of the ninth with a single to shortstop and stole second. DeCroock followed with a single through the left side and moved to second as the throw came home. Down 0-2 in the count, Bode put the ball in play to bring in Sbrocco to end the game.

Neither team scored until the bottom of the fourth when Santmyer started the frame with a single to left and got to second on an error by the Gustavus left fielder. Katie Howard followed by driving a single up the middle to bring in Santmyer for the game's opening run.

Ashley Neuenfeldt gave the Gusties the lead with a two-out, two-run double to deep left center in the next half inning. With St. Olaf trailing 2-1, Katie Weisheit delivered a two-out RBI double to left center to plate pinch runner Jenna Peschel in the home half of the sixth to eventually send the game to extra innings.

Graf pitched a combined 4.2 innings of shutout ball to earn her 13th victory of the season, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out 10. After Graf pitched the first 1.1 innings, Grismer struck out seven in 4.1 innings of two-run ball before Graf came back in with two outs in the sixth and finished the game.

Piper Otto threw all eight innings for Gustavus, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts.



St. Olaf visits the University of St. Thomas on Wednesday, April 28 for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader.