University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Splits Pair at Worth Classic
3/2/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Against the Beavers, Stephanie Sward singled to lead off the third inning. The rookie from Maplewood, Minn., promptly stole second. Tammi Hays followed with a single, moving Sward to third. Minnesota then executed a perfect double steal, taking a 1-0 lead as Sward raced home. With Hays on second and one out, Shelly Nichols drilled a double to right center giving Gold Country the 2-0 lead.
That was more than enough for hurler Angie Recknor. The junior from Minnetonka, Minn., carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning. The Beavers were able to push an unearned run across, but Recknor upped her record to 5-1, striking out five, while not issuing a walk.
In game two, neither Minnesota's Piper Marten nor Cal State Fullerton's Christy Robitaille allowed a run through seven innings. With the international tiebreaker rule in place and the Titans' Krista O'Hanian on third, Brittany Ziegler hit a ground ball to score O'Hanian. The Gophers failed to score in the bottom of the frame, to drop their first game since Feb. 8.
The Golden Gophers wrap up the tournament Sunday with a 9 a.m. game with No. 6 California, followed by a 11 a.m. contest with San Jose State.
