University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Split Softball Double Header
3/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Miami, Fla. - The 23rd-ranked Minnesota Golden Gopher Softball team split its double header Wednesday evening with Florida International. The Gophers moved to 20-8 on the season, while the Golden Panthers fell to 26-19.
In the opener, the Gophers flexed their muscle smashing a pair of home runs en route to a 4-0 victory. With a 1-0 lead, Shelly Nichols hit her first home run of the season in the third inning to put Minnesota ahead 2-0.
With one out in the fourth and Veronica Roberts on second after the first of her two doubles, Anne Thul hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season. It was the first game this season that the Gophers hit two home runs in a single game. That was more than enough for sophomore hurler Piper Marten.
Marten threw her fourth complete-game shutout of the season to up her record to 12-4 on the season. Marten struck out nine, while allowing just three hits.
The Gophers dropped game two as Amanda Nealer threw a one-hitter, leading FIU to a 3-1 victory. Nichols hit her second home run of the day to break up Nealer's no-hitter in the seventh inning. All three Panther runs were unearned as Minnesota's Angie Recknor fell to 7-4 on the season.
Minnesota will next be in action when they take on No. 11 Florida Atlantic in the FAU Invitational Friday at noon EST. The Gophers will then face a rematch with FIU at 2 p.m. Minnesota will wrap up the tournament on Saturday with an 11 a.m. contest with No. 14 Iowa and a 1 p.m. game with FAU.
