University of Minnesota Athletics
Softball Splits Doubleheader at Home against Indiana
4/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
- Box Score - Game 2
The University of Minnesota softball team (27-15, 7-5) fell victim to the elements in a 1-0 loss against Indiana (25-25, 2-8) on Sunday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Meghan Conners' pop-up in the bottom of the seventh inning was pushed to shallow left field by the wind and the ball dropped to allow the winning run to score. The Golden Gophers won the first game of the doubleheader by the score of 6-4.
In the first game, the game was scoreless through three innings before Indiana's defense imploded. The Hoosiers committed five errors in the bottom of the fourth inning as Minnesota scored six runs. Hailee Nanchy led off the inning with a single to left field. Valerie Alston reached on an error and the pair were moved into scoring position by Rachel Keeney's sacrifice bunt. Rene Konderik's grounder was thrown away and brought home a pair of runs. The next six Golden Gophers reached base before the Boilermakers were able to get out of the inning.
Trailing 6-0, Purdue got back in the ball game with runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Karly McCormack hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning and Abby Stark delivered a two-run single in the sixth inning.
Minnesota brought senior Piper Marten in to pitch in the seventh inning and she recorded her second save of the season. She allowed one hit and tallied one strikeout. Konderik started for Minnesota and earned her fourth win of the season after allowing two runs on four hits in four innings. Lyn Peyer allowed two runs on two hits in one inning of relief.
The Golden Gophers were held to five singles on the day against Indiana pitchers Megan Roark and Heather Stillians. Roark took the loss after allowing five runs on three hits in 3.1 innings. Only one of the five runs were earned.
In the second game, Marten and Indiana starter Mariangee Bogado locked up in a pitchers' duel. Bogado came out on top with the 1-0 victory. She pitched a complete-game five-hit shutout with nine strikeouts. Marten allowed just three Hoosier hits and finished four strikeouts.
Indiana threatened in the fifth inning with runners on first and third with one out. Marten got out of the jam by getting Stillians to pop up to first and retiring Connors on the comebacker.
In the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on first and third with two outs, Connors hit a high pop-up on a 2-2 pitch. The ball started to sail into foul territory but the strong winds pushed the ball into shallow left field where it dropped. Lauren Hines trotted home with the game-winning run.
Minnesota will return to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium this Wednesday for a doubleheader against Drake. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
