University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Falls at Wisconsin
5/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Wisconsin's Andrea Kirchberg and Minnesota's Piper Marten tangled in an outstanding pitching performance. Kirchberg (19-13) earned the victory, striking out 13, while walking just one. Marten was the tough-luck loser. The sophomore from Farmington, N.M., allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out four.
The Gophers could not take advantage of two Tammi Hays hits and four errors by Wisconsin third baseman Kiana Consolmagno in the first six innings, while leaving five on base. The Badgers took advantage of their lone opportunity in the bottom of the sixth.
With one out and Erin Barnharst on second base, Mandy Liles singled to centerfield to give the Badgers the lead. Minnesota missed a golden chance, as Wisconsin nearly gave the game away, to either tie the game or take the lead in the top of the seventh.
Following a walk, a Badger error and a passed ball, Minnesota had runners at second and third base with no outs. But after Kirchberg struckout Marten and Christine Lindberg, Hays, who was batting .422 at the time, grounded out to end the game.
Minnesota now must defeat the Badgers in its 1 p.m. contest tomorrow and hope for a Penn State loss to Ohio State to secure a bid to the conference tournament. The Nittany Lions downed OSU 1-0 Friday afternoon.
