University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Sweep Hoosiers in Big Ten Softball
4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Minneapolis, Minn. - The Minnesota Golden Gophers earned their third Big Ten Conference sweep of the season, downing Indiana 4-0, Saturday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Minnesota moved to 33-16 overall and 7-5 in the conference, while the Hoosiers dropped to 12-27-1, 0-13 in the league.
The Gophers took the lead in the second inning as Hailee Nanchy hit a chopper to Hoosier Heather Suca at second base. When Suca threw the ball into the fourth row behind the first base dugout, Allie Fisk, who was at second base, was awarded home.
Minnesota put the game out of reach scoring three runs in the sixth inning as Veronica Roberts led off the frame with a singe. With Roberts on second base after a Hailee Nanchy sacrifice bunt, Christine Lindberg singled to left field to plate Roberts. After Stephanie Sward, who was pinch-running for Lindberg, stole home, Piper Marten doubled to score Tammi Hays, who had singled earlier in the inning.
Hays also had two stolen bases in the game, upping her career total to 79, just two behind Mischel Doerr's (1990-93) school record. Hays and Marten both recorded a pair of hits.
Gopher hurler Angie Recknor earned the victory to move to 12-6, throwing her third complete-game shutout of the season. The junior from Minnetonka, Minn., allowed just five hits and struck out four, while lowering her season earned run average to an anorexic 0.98. As a pitching staff, Minnesota's ERA is conference best 1.24.
The Gophers will continue their eight-game home-stand when they host Concordia, Wednesday afternoon to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at 4 p.m.
Score by Innings R H E Minnesota........... 010 003 0 - 4 9 1 Indiana............. 000 000 0 - 0 5 2 E - Nichols; Suca; Dugan. LOB - Gophers 9; Hoosiers 5. 2B - Marten. SH - Marten; Thul; Recknor; Nanchy. SB - Hays 2; Sward. CS - Hanson. Win - Recknor (12-6). Loss - Witham (5-8).
