University of Minnesota Athletics
SB: Minnesota Earns Sweep of North Dakota State
4/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
- Box Scores
The Golden Gopher softball team (20-20) won a pair of one-run contests in a non- conference sweep of North Dakota State on Thursday night at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Sophomore Megan Higginbotham hit a two-run home run as Minnesota rallied for a 3-2 win in the first game. In the nightcap, sophomore Mandy Valadez allowed an unearned run on just three hits in a 2-1 win.
The first game started rough for Minnesota as North Dakota State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With one out, Grete Peterson reached on an infield single. Lynnae Foshag followed with a two-run home run to left field on an 0-2 pitch against starter Lyn Peyer.
Minnesota started slow at the plate as it stranded the bases loaded in the first and second innings. In the second inning, the Golden Gophers cut the NDSU lead to 2-1 as Chrissy Sward singled up the middle to bring home Lindsey Erickson.
In the fourth inning, the Golden Gophers took control of the game. After Stefanie Watt led off with a single, Higginbotham launched a 2-1, two-out pitch over the left field wall to give Minnesota a 3-2 lead. It was Higginbotham’s third home run of the season.
The Bison could not get the equalizer against Peyer. She earned the complete-game win after finishing with 11 strikeouts. She allowed two runs on seven hits. NDSU starter Allison Bakke allowed three runs on seven hits. She struck out four and walked four.
In the second game, Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Stephanie and Chrissy Sward led off with back-to-back singles. After a double steal, Higginbotham picked up the RBI with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Golden Gophers increased the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, Stefanie Watt doubled to left field. She reached third on Stephanie Sward’s single up the middle. Sward then stole second. With Chrissy Sward at the plate, the Bison picked off Sward at second base, but Watt scored before the final out was recorded.
Valadez cruised through the first five innings after just allowing two hits. In the top of the sixth inning, the Bison broke through thanks to back-to-back Golden Gopher errors to start the inning. Erin Troup cut the lead to 2-1 with a single down the left field line. Valadez ended the threat with a nifty defensive play on a comebacker by Amy Hemingson. "10" vspace="10">
Valadez retired the side in the seventh inning on three straight ground outs. She earned her second complete-game victory of the season after allowing just one unearned run.
Higginbotham added two more hits in the second game to finish the series with four hits, three RBI and a run scored. Stephanie Sward went 3-for-6 in the two- game series.
Minnesota returns to Big Ten play on Sunday when it hosts M
