University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Softball Opens FAU Tourney 2-0
3/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Boca Raton, Fla. - The No. 23 Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-8) won their first two games at the Florida Atlantic Parents' Weekend Tournament. Minnesota downed No. 11 Florida Atlantic (34-6) and Florida International (26-20).
In the tournament opener, Piper Marten avenged a one-run loss to Florida Atlantic All-American Nikki Myers earlier in the week. Marten threw her eighth complete game of the season, allowing just one run on two hits, while striking out six, winning 2-1.
The Gophers took a 1-0 lead scoring a run in the first inning. Tammi Hays led off the game with a single. She later scored on a Jordanne Nygren double.
The Owls tied the game in the third inning as Candice Freel hit her first home run of the season, but Minnesota would answer with a run in the seventh.
With two outs, the FAU defense committed a pair of errors that allowed Kolu Paye to score the winning run. Hays went 3-for-4, while Marten upped her record to 13-4. Myers fell to 19-4.
In the nightcap, the Gophers beat FAU 1-0 in eight innings. It was the first extra-inning victory for the Gophers after losing their other two opportunities.
With the international tie-breaker rule in place, Stephanie Sward led off the eighth at second base. Hays followed with an infield single. Nygren ended the game hitting a smash to plate Sward from second. In relief of Angie Recknor, who allowed just four hits in 6 2/3 innings, Marten picked up her 14th win of the season.
The Gophers will wrap up the tournament Saturday with three games. Minnesota will take on No. 14 Iowa at 11 a.m., followed by 1 and 6 p.m. contests with FAU and FIU
