University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Downs Penn State
4/5/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
State College, Pa. - In extremely frigid conditions, with temperatures in the 20's, the 25th-ranked Minnesota Golden Gopher softball team downed Penn State, 5-4 Friday evening. Following a 15-minute snow delay in the fourth inning, Minnesota exploded for five runs in the fifth to up its record to 25-11 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten Conference, while the Nittany Lions fell to 16-16 overall, 2-3 in the league.
Trailing 2-0, the Gophers' Hailee Nanchy led off the fifth with a walk. Rachel Keeney then reached second base on a PSU error, advancing Allie Fisk, who was pinch-running for Nanchy, to third. After Piper Marten was hit by a Marisa Hanson pitch, Fisk scored on a wild pitch. Minnesota's Tammi Hays then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases. Veronica Roberts promptly cleared the bases with a triple and scored on a Nittany Lion throwing error.
That was enough for Gopher pitcher Angie Recknor who upped her record to 9-4 on the season, while Martin picked up her third save of the season, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings.
Jordanne Nygren went 2-for-2 at the plate with her eighth double of the season for the Gophers, while Shelly Nichols also lined a double. They lead the team with 14 combined two-baggers.
Minnesota will wrap up its series with PSU Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Golden Gophers will then travel to Columbus, Ohio for a noon doubleheader with Ohio State on Sunday.
