University of Minnesota Athletics
Marten Becomes All-Time Wins Leader as Softball Earns Sweep
4/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
- Box Score - Game 2
Senior Piper Marten became Minnesota's all-time leader in career victories as the Golden Gopher softball team (30-19) swept Wisconsin- Green Bay (7-23) on Tuesday evening at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Marten allowed just two hits and struck out 11 as Minnesota won the opener by the score of 3-1. Freshman Megan Higginbotham had two doubles and three RBI in the rematch as the Golden Gophers prevailed 5-1.
In the first game, the Phoenix got on the board first as Kate Sullivan hit an RBI double to the wall in left field. Wisconsin-Green Bay managed just one more hit against Marten.
The Golden Gophers answered in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Hailee Nanchy singled home Stephanie Sward from second base on the first pitch she saw from Phoenix starter Stephanie Hansen.
Minnesota increased the lead to 3-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Tonya Mitchell and Megan Higginbotham reached on singles. Valerie Alston then hit a 2-2 pitch off the top of the right field wall for a two-run double.
That was all the support Marten needed as she won her 85th career game, passing Steph Klaviter's previous school record of 84. She is now the career leader at Minnesota in victories, innings pitched, appearances and strikeouts.
Hansen took the loss for Wisconsin-Green Bay after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk.
In the nightcap, the Golden Gophers jumped ahead early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Higginbotham delivered the big blow with a two-run double to center field. Higginbotham scored from second on Hailee Nanchy's sacrifice bunt.
After Wisconsin-Green Bay scored a run in the top of the third inning on Anna Nieznanski's sacrifice fly, Higginbotham struck again with an RBI double to left center in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Minnesota added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning on Alston's single to center which scored Higginbotham from second.
Freshman Rene Konderik earned her third straight victory after allowing an unearned run on just three hits. She struck out eight and did not allow a walk to improve to 6-2 on the season.
Lisa Meissner took the loss for the Phoenix after allowing five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts.
Minnesota will hosts its final home games this weekend against Illinois and Iowa. The Golden Gophers and the Hawkeyes will play on Friday night at 6 p.m. and on Saturday afternoon at Noon. Minnesota and Illinois will play a Sunday doubleheader beginning at Noon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Iowa and Illinois are in second and third place in the Big Ten, respectively.