University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gopher Softball Team Wraps Up Fall Season Undefeated
10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota softball team finished its fall season with an undefeated 6-0 record after sweeping St. Cloud State, 5-2 and 6-1, Sunday in a doubleheader at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Gophers used a five-run third inning in the first game and jumped out to three-run first-inning lead in the second game to down the Huskies.
Lisa Parks continued a solid fall season with two hits and three RBI, and Chrissy Sward batted in Minnesota’s other two runs to lead the Gopher offensive attack in Game 1. Katie Dalen went the distance in the circle, giving up just two runs on four hits and striking out six for the victory.
Neither team was able to generate a rally in the first game until the Golden Gophers opened up by batting around in the bottom of the third. Shannon Stemper led off with a walk and was replaced on the base paths by Sila Fernandez, who quickly took second with a stolen base. Colleen Powers then reached on an error by the third baseman, and Colleen Conway singled to third to load the bases with no outs. Sward stepped to the plate and singled to left to score two runners.
Minnesota quickly reloaded the bases when Megan Higginbotham reached on an error by the St. Cloud State shortstop. Parks took advantage, doubling to left center to clear the bases and put the Gophers up 5-0. It was all they would need to secure the victory.
The Huskies got a run back in both the fourth and the sixth innings, but they never seriously threatened to make the game close.
The Gophers wasted no time in jumping ahead of St. Cloud State in Game 2. After Conway grounded out to the pitcher in the bottom of the first, Sward reached on an error by the first baseman. Higginbotham then singled to right and the Gophers put on a double steal to advance both runners into scoring position. In what was a common occurrence during the fall season, Parks again came through with runners in scoring position, singling to left field to score both runners. Parks advanced to second and was pinch ran for by Amber Nelsen. Minnesota’s next batter, Katie Meyer, followed with a single to left center to score Nelsen and put the Gophers up 3-0.
Minnesota added a run in the third, with Parks and Meyer again starting the rally. With one out, Parks singled to left field and was pinch ran for by Bethany Wolvington. Meyer then doubled to left to give the Gophers runners on second and third. Casey Wheeler sacrificed Wolvington home to give Minnesota a 4-0 lead.
St. Cloud State got a run back in the top of the fourth, but the Gophers put the game away with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Powers started the inning with a shot right back to the pitcher, and Conway followed with a double to left field to again give Minnesota runners on second and third with no outs. Sward batted in her third run of the day with a single to left field. Higginbotham followed with a ground out to the second baseman that plated Conway to cap off the scoring.
The Huskies threatened to make it a game in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Briana Hassett quickly dashed their hopes, however, striking out three straight batters to get out of the jam.
Five Gophers batted in a run in the game, with Parks leading the way with two RBI. Sward, Higginbotham, Meyer and Casey Wheeler had the other run-producing hits. Rene Konderik and Hassett combined to give up just two hits and struck out 10 St. Cloud State batters from the circle.
The Golden Gophers are now off until February, 9, when they will begin their 2007 regular season with a tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
Lisa Parks continued a solid fall season with two hits and three RBI, and Chrissy Sward batted in Minnesota’s other two runs to lead the Gopher offensive attack in Game 1. Katie Dalen went the distance in the circle, giving up just two runs on four hits and striking out six for the victory.
Neither team was able to generate a rally in the first game until the Golden Gophers opened up by batting around in the bottom of the third. Shannon Stemper led off with a walk and was replaced on the base paths by Sila Fernandez, who quickly took second with a stolen base. Colleen Powers then reached on an error by the third baseman, and Colleen Conway singled to third to load the bases with no outs. Sward stepped to the plate and singled to left to score two runners.
Minnesota quickly reloaded the bases when Megan Higginbotham reached on an error by the St. Cloud State shortstop. Parks took advantage, doubling to left center to clear the bases and put the Gophers up 5-0. It was all they would need to secure the victory.
The Huskies got a run back in both the fourth and the sixth innings, but they never seriously threatened to make the game close.
The Gophers wasted no time in jumping ahead of St. Cloud State in Game 2. After Conway grounded out to the pitcher in the bottom of the first, Sward reached on an error by the first baseman. Higginbotham then singled to right and the Gophers put on a double steal to advance both runners into scoring position. In what was a common occurrence during the fall season, Parks again came through with runners in scoring position, singling to left field to score both runners. Parks advanced to second and was pinch ran for by Amber Nelsen. Minnesota’s next batter, Katie Meyer, followed with a single to left center to score Nelsen and put the Gophers up 3-0.
Minnesota added a run in the third, with Parks and Meyer again starting the rally. With one out, Parks singled to left field and was pinch ran for by Bethany Wolvington. Meyer then doubled to left to give the Gophers runners on second and third. Casey Wheeler sacrificed Wolvington home to give Minnesota a 4-0 lead.
St. Cloud State got a run back in the top of the fourth, but the Gophers put the game away with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Powers started the inning with a shot right back to the pitcher, and Conway followed with a double to left field to again give Minnesota runners on second and third with no outs. Sward batted in her third run of the day with a single to left field. Higginbotham followed with a ground out to the second baseman that plated Conway to cap off the scoring.
The Huskies threatened to make it a game in the top of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Briana Hassett quickly dashed their hopes, however, striking out three straight batters to get out of the jam.
Five Gophers batted in a run in the game, with Parks leading the way with two RBI. Sward, Higginbotham, Meyer and Casey Wheeler had the other run-producing hits. Rene Konderik and Hassett combined to give up just two hits and struck out 10 St. Cloud State batters from the circle.
The Golden Gophers are now off until February, 9, when they will begin their 2007 regular season with a tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
Players Mentioned
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