University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHERS WIN METRODOME SOFTBALL CLASSIC, DEFEAT LOUISVILLE 6-3
2/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Gopher second baseman Angel Braden was the tournament's most valuable player, hitting .550 (11-for-20) over the seven games with three doubles, three home runs and 12 runs batted in. Braden compiled a .654 on-base percentage and a 1.150 slugging percentage. Allie Fisk, Tammi Hays, Piper Marten and Angie Recknor also earned all-tournament honors.
The Gophers rallied from a 1-0 deficit with two out in the bottom of the first inning. Veronica Roberts hit a triple down the right-field line, scoring Hays, Sarah Rustad and Braden to give Minnesota a 3-1 lead. The Gophers extended the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning when Fisk drove home Shelly Nichols with an infield single. Louisville cut the lead to 4-3, but Minnesota added two insurance runs in the sixth inning on Hailee Nanchy's two-out, two-run double. Marten pitched the first four innings and the final two outs, sandwiching 2 1/3 innings of relief from Jessica Green, to improve her record to 6-0 for the season.
Minnesota heads to the road next week to continue their season with an eight-game road trip to the state of North Carolina. The Gophers will play North Carolina in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday at 2 p.m. (EST) in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Minnesota 6, Louisville 3 Louisville 100 020 0 - 3 8 0 Minnesota 300 102 x - 6 8 1 Rak, Rockwell (2), McClure (5) and McMillan. Marten, Green (5), Marten (7) and Smith. WP - Marten (6-0). LP - Rak (2-1). HR - none. METRODOME SOFTBALL CLASSIC Sunday's Games Western Illinois 3, Northern Iowa 1 (Northern Iowa eliminated) Louisville 2, Western Illinois 1 (Western Illinois eliminated) Minnesota 6, Louisville 3 (Minnesota wins championship) ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM Minnesota - Angel Braden (MVP), Allie Fisk, Tammi Hays, Piper Marten, Angie Recknor Louisville - Keola Calderon, Coleen Coughlin, Kenzie Meisenburg, Mandy Rockwell Western Illinois - Dani Hoffman, Lindsay Tasker, Jennifer Tyrrell Northern Iowa - Kimbee Plata, Lindsay Wood Wisconsin-Green Bay - Lisa Barker, Connie Koceja
