University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Splits Doubleheader at Northern Iowa
4/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the nightcap, Minnesota trounced the Panthers 7-0. The Gophers took the early lead, as Tammi Hays led off the game with a walk. Following a Veronica Roberts sacrifice bunt, Shelly Nichols singled to drive in Hays. The Gophers exploded for three runs in the fifth inning, two in the sixth and another in the seventh coasting to the victory.
With one out in the fifth, Nichols doubled to leftfield. After Jordanne Nygren walked, Anne Thul doubled to plate Nichols. With two outs and the bases loaded, Hailee Nanchy provided the Gophers' third double of the inning to score both Thul and Nygren.
Nichols hit a two-run homerun, her fourth of the season, in the sixth, while Rachel Keeney hit Minnesota's seventh double of the game and eighth extra-base hit, driving in Erin Wallace as Minnesota pitcher Angie Recknor took care of the rest.
Recknor threw six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and struckout five to up her record to 11-6 on the season. Nichols went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
In the opener, the Gophers struggled in the 6-3 loss, committing five errors and leaving 13 runners on base. Minnesota did take the initial lead, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the third inning.
Hays led off the frame with an infield single for the Gophers. Nichols followed with a sacrifice bunt before Nygren doubled to left-centerfield to drive in Hays. Thul added to the score with a single to plate Kolu Paye, who was pinch-running for Nygren. Minnesota did threaten for more but left two baserunners on base.
The Panthers answered with five runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. Minnesota did answer with a run in the fifth inning, but it wasn't enough against Panther hurler Julie Phillips (12-13). Hays did go 3-for-5 with a run, while Nygren was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.
Piper Marten also struggled, lasting just 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits. The sophomore from Farmington, N.M., did strikeout five Panthers to up her season total to 222.
The Gophers will continue their road trip when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa for a 2 p.m. doubleheader with Drake. Minnesota returns home Friday for a 6 p.m. contest with Indiana.
