University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHERS SOFTBALL TEAM HEADS TO NORTH CAROLINA
2/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Triangle Classic Format
The Triangle Classic consists of 24 teams. The teams are split into six pools of four teams, and each pool will have round-robin competition. After pool play is completed, the teams with the top eight records will play in the Gold Bracket, the next eight teams will play in the Silver Bracket, and the final eight teams will play in the Bronze Bracket. Each bracket is single-elimination, but has a loser's bracket side to guarantee each team six games.
Triangle Classic Schedule (All Times EST)
Friday, Feb. 16 Temple (0-0) vs. Minnesota, Noon Ohio (0-0) vs. Minnesota, 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 UNC-Wilmington (0-0) vs. Minnesota, Noon Bracket game, 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18 Two Bracket Games, TBA Metrodome Review
Game 1 - Minnesota 10, Northern Iowa 1 (6 innings) Senior Angel Braden (Chino, Calif./St. Lucy's) tied two school records with two home runs and seven runs batted in to lead Minnesota to a season-opening win. She also had four hits and 11 total bases, both career highs. First-year pitcher Piper Marten (Farmington, N.M./ Farmington) allowed one hit in six innings and struck out 10 batters in the win.
Game 2 - Minnesota 2, Wisconsin-Green Bay 1 (8 innings) First-year infielder Hailee Nanchy (Ontario, Calif./Ontario Christian) drove in sophomore Allie Fisk (Orono, Minn./Orono) with a one-out single in the eighth inning to give Minnesota a 2-0 start. Nanchy and Fisk each had two hits to lead a seven-hit attack. Sophomore Angie Recknor (Minnetonka, Minn./Hopkins) pitched seven innings without allowing an earned run, and Marten pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning to record her second win.
Game 3 - Western Illinois 2, Minnesota 1 Melanie Dobson and Becky Sullivan limited the Gophers to three hits and handed Minnesota its first loss of the season. After falling behind 2- 0, sophomore Shelly Nichols (Austin, Tex./Stephen F. Austin) drove in senior pinch-runner Amy Hafemeyer (Kenyon, Minn./Faribault) in the fifth inning to trim the margin to 2-1, but the Gophers could not equalize.
Game 4 - Minnesota 2, Louisville 0 The Gophers shut out the Cardinals and earned the top seed in bracket play, based on run differential. Marten earned her first collegiate shutout, allowing three hits and striking out 10 batters. Braden and junior Tammi Hays (Hastings, Minn./Hastings) each had two hits. Braden scored the first run on a fourth-inning double by sophomore Veronica Roberts (San Diego, Calif./Mt. Carmel) and drove in Hays in the fifth inning with the second run.
Game 5 - Minnesota 8, Western Illinois 3 Minnesota avenged its only loss in pool play with a solid win over the Westerwinds. Hays had three hits and a run scored, and Braden had two hits, including a three-run homer, to highlight a 10-hit attack. Marten won her fourth game, pitching a complete game and striking out eight batters.
Game 6 - Minnesota 3, Louisville 2 Minnesota rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Cardinals for the second time and advance to the championship game. First-year pitcher Jessica Green (San Diego, Calif./Serra) singled in her first Minnesota at bat, scoring Roberts to tie the game in the fourth inning. Braden drove in Marten with a fielder's choice in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Minnesota its second victory of the tournament in its final at bat.
Game 7 - Minnesota 6, Louisville 3 (Championship) The Gophers completed their first Metrodome championship with its third win over Louisville. Minnesota erased a 1-0 deficit in the bottom of the first inning, as Roberts hit a three-run triple to give the Gophers a 3-1 lead. Louisville closed to within 4-3, but Nanchy doubled in two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to provide insurance. Braden was named the tournament MVP, hitting .550 (11-for-20) with three doubles, three home runs, 12 runs batted in, a .654 on-base percentage and a 1.150 slugging percentage. Fisk, Hays, Marten and Recknor were named to the all-tournament team with Braden.
Metrodome Tidbits
Minnesota's offense was explosive in the season's first weekend, compiling a .317 batting average, a .376 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage. The Gophers are averaging 4.6 runs per game and 8.14 hits per game. In the circle, Minnesota allowed seven earned runs in the seven games and has a 1.02 team earned run average. Gopher pitchers are averaging 7.0 strikeouts per game. Minnesota averaged 1.0 errors per game in the field and has a team .965 fielding percentage.
About North Carolina (5-1)
The Tar Heels began their season with a doubleheader split at No. 18 South Carolina by identical scores of 1-0. North Carolina extended its winning streak to five games by sweeping Elon (5-0, 9-1) and Appalachian State (10-0, 6-1). Pitcher Radara McHugh was 23-6 in 2000 and is 3-1 in her four decision to start 2001.
The Series - Minnesota leads, 7-3. The Gophers were swept in a doubleheader Feb 17, 2000, by scores of 3-0 and 2-0.
About Temple (0-0)
The Owls will play their first game of the season against Minnesota on Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Temple was 19-31 in the 2000 season, 8-6 in the Atlantic-10 Conference. The Owls return their top hitter in junior Katie Spencer (.292, 14 runs) and their top pitcher in sophomore Bari Lynn Pflueger (9-11, 2.48 ERA).
The Series - Minnesota leads, 2-0.
About Ohio (0-0)
The Bobcats will open their 2001 season with the Triangle Classic. Ohio was 18-28 last season, including a 10-11 record in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats return sophomore infielder Kelli Bankert (.361, 16 doubles, 24 RBI) and senior pitcher Kasey Dowd (8-14, 2.83 ERA).
The Series - Minnesota leads, 3-0.
About UNC-Wilmington (0-0)
The Seahawks are starting their 2001 season in the Raleigh tournament. UNC-Wilmington was 22-42 in the 2000 season, 8-12 in the Southern Conference. The Seahwk offense is led by senior outfielder Susanna Rabon (.315, 26 runs). UNC-Wilmington returns three pitchers, led by sophomore Christine Freaney (12-14, 2.13 ERA). The Series - Minnesota leads, 1-0. The Gophers won the only previous game, 12-2 in five innings, in the 1999 Triangle Classic.
The Road Continues in Southern California
After a week off, the Gophers will travel to California for a doubleheader against San Diego State on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. (PST). Minnesota will participate in the Worth Invitational from March 2-4 in Fullerton, Calif. The Gophers will face San Jose State (March 2, Noon), California (March 2, 2 p.m.), Cal State Fullerton (March 3, Noon), Long Beach State (March 3, 6 p.m.), Oregon (March 4, 9 a.m.), and Pacific (March 4, 11 a.m.).
