University of Minnesota Athletics
SOFTBALL CONTINUES ROAD SCHEDULE WITH THE CREIGHTON SPRING CLASSIC
3/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Creighton Softball Spring Classic Preview
The Gophers will play five games in the Creighton Softball Spring Classic, hosted by Creighton University. The six teams will play a round-robin schedule, with the best record winning the tournament. Minnesota's schedule:
Friday, March 9 Minnesota vs. Buffalo (2-7), 9 a.m. Minnesota vs. (17) Nebraska (10-9), 11:15 a.m. Saturday, March 10 Minnesota vs. Missouri-Kansas City (0-4), 3:45 p.m. Minnesota at Creighton (4-6), 6 p.m. Sunday, March 11 Minnesota vs. Drake (3-7), 11:15 a.m. Minnesota Individual Notes
Senior Angel Braden (Chino, Calif./St. Lucy's) leads Minnesota with a .351 batting average, a .471 on-base percentage, a .702 slugging percentage, five doubles, five home runs and 24 runs batted in. She has already matched her career high for home runs in a season and is five RBI shy of her 2000 total of 29 runs batted in. Braden is now fourth on Minnesota's all-time list with 14 home runs and is fifth on the Gophers' all-time list with 94 runs batted in.
First-year pitcher Piper Marten (Farmington, N.M./Farmington) has been the winning pitcher in 10 of Minnesota's 12 wins this season. She leads Minnesota in just about every pitching category, including appearances (18), innings pitched (85), strikeouts (89) and opponent batting average (.161). She is averaging 7.33 strikeouts per 7 innings.
Sophomore Allie Fisk (Orono, Minn./Orono) was Minnesota's top hitter for average in Southern California with a .353 mark and led the Gophers with six hits. Marten allowed six runs (two earned) in 28 innings and had a 0.50 ERA with starts against three nationally ranked teams. Minnesota stole six bases and did not allow a stolen base over the six-game road trip.
About This Weekend's Opponents
Buffalo (2-7)
The Bulls have lost their last three games and are 0-3 in one-run games. Buffalo has lost two games against Illinois by scores of 6-0 and 6-2, and have dropped a 6-0 game to Northern Iowa, a team Minnesota defeated 10-1 in the Metrodome Softball Classic. The Bulls average nearly four runs per game.
The Series - First Meeting.
Nebraska (10-9)
The 17th-ranked Cornhuskers have played one of the nation's most difficult schedules, as eight of their nine losses are to nationally ranked teams. Nebraska and Minnesota have played two common opponents. Both schools have defeated Oregon and lost to California, with Nebraska winning two games against the Ducks and losing two one-run decisions to the Golden Bears.
The Series - Nebraska leads, 11-6.
Missouri-Kansas City (0-4)
The Kangaroos lost their first four games of the season to Texas and Southwest Texas State in San Marcos, Texas. Missouri-Kansas City is led by first-year head coach Carla Marchetti, who spent last season at Texas Tech.
The Series - First Meeting.
Creighton (4-6)
The Blue Jays have wins over Tulsa (2), Western Michigan and Indiana State in the 2001 season. Creighton has taken three losses to nationally ranked Oklahoma (2) and Arizona. The Blue Jays will play Cal State Northridge and Arizona in Tucson, Ariz. on Tuesday before beginning play Friday at home.
The Series - Creighton leads, 11-7.
Drake (3-7)
The Bulldogs have wins over Georgia Tech, Connecticut and Southern Utah in the 2001 season. Among common opponents, Drake dropped a 1-0 decision to Northern Iowa, a team Minnesota defeated 10-1 in the Metrodome Softball Classic. The Gophers will host Drake in a non- conference doubleheader April 25 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
The Series - Minnesota leads, 7-4.
Up Next
Minnesota will have a 12-day break after its game against Drake. The Gophers begin their 10-game spring break road-trip to Indiana with the Boilermaker Invitational on March 24-25 in West Lafayette, Ind. The trip concludes with Big Ten road games at Purdue (March 29) and Indiana (March 30, April 1).
