University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Sweep UW-Superior
10/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota softball team utilized a combination of dominant pitching and solid hitting to defeat UW-Superior 4-1 and 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
In game one, Rene Konderik pitched seven innings and got out of a number of jams with runners in scoring position to earn the victory. She struck out eight UW-Superior batters and allowed just one earned run, that coming in the seventh inning. Lisa Parks went two-for-three with two RBI and Katie Meyer also had ttwo hits to lead the Gophers at the plate
Briana Hassett turned in her second straight dominating performance in game two, striking out 11 in the two-hit shutout. The top of the Minnesota order provided much of the scoring punch, as Colleen Conway, Amber Nelson and Megan Higginbotham combined for six hits, four RBI and five runs scored.
The first game began as a pitcher’s dual, with neither team able to score through the first three-and-a-half innings. The Yellow Jackets threatened in the second inning when Brooke Bailey led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Konderik struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
UW-Superior had another opportunity in the third, but a fantastic play from Chrissy Sward ended the rally. With two outs and runner on second, Katie Moench dropped a single into left field. Sward charged to recover the ball and delivered a perfect one-hopper to gun Redlich out at home.
The Yellow Jackets threatened yet again in the top half of the fourth. Erin Kegley doubled down the left field line to start the inning and then advanced to third on a sac bunt. Konderik settled down from there, getting Jamie Lovstad to pop up to first and striking out Kacy Johnston to end the inning.
Minnesota’s bats had a tough time solving Yellow Jacket pitcher Nichole Tessier early on, as she faced just one more than the minimum through three innings. The Gophers finally put together a rally in the fourth. Sward and Higginbotham led off with back-to-back singles to center. Parks then doubled down the left field line to score the first two runs of the game. Meyer followed with another single to score Bethany Wolvington, who pinch ran for Parks, to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota struck again in the sixth. Parks and Meyer led off with back-to-back singles and both moved up a base on a sac bunt by Mandy Valadez. Amber Nelsen then flew out to center to score Sila Fernandez, who ran for Parks, to extend the Gophers’ lead to 4-0.
UW-Superior broke up the shutout with a run in the seventh and threatened to make it an even closer game by loading the bases. Konderik again settled down to get the final two outs. The inning was highlighted by a brilliant diving catch by Casey Wheeler in center field, robbing UW-Superior’s Alyson Lunberg of a hit and Minnesota came away with the 4-1 victory.
The Gophers wasted little time scoring in the second game, putting two runs on the board in the first and another in the second. Conway started the first inning with a single through the left side of the infield and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Nelsen. Higginbotham then delivered a triple over the center fielder’s head to give the Gophers an early lead. After Parks walked, she was replaced by Bethany Wolvington on the base paths. The Gophers put on a steal, and Higginbotham scored when Wolvington was thrown out at second.
Shannon Stemper used some heads-up baserunning to score another run in the second. After singling to right field to start the inning, she advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and later scored on a groundout by Conway to third base.
Minnesota batted around and scored five runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Conway doubled to score the Gophers’ first run, and Nelsen followed with an RBI triple. With two outs in the inning, Minnesota got consecutive singles from Meyer, Heidi Carls and Casey Wheeler to put the game away.
Hassett faced just four more than the minimum in a dominant performance from the circle, striking out 11 and allowing just two hits in the shutout.
The Golden Gophers will wrap up their fall season next Saturday when they host St. Cloud State in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
In game one, Rene Konderik pitched seven innings and got out of a number of jams with runners in scoring position to earn the victory. She struck out eight UW-Superior batters and allowed just one earned run, that coming in the seventh inning. Lisa Parks went two-for-three with two RBI and Katie Meyer also had ttwo hits to lead the Gophers at the plate
Briana Hassett turned in her second straight dominating performance in game two, striking out 11 in the two-hit shutout. The top of the Minnesota order provided much of the scoring punch, as Colleen Conway, Amber Nelson and Megan Higginbotham combined for six hits, four RBI and five runs scored.
The first game began as a pitcher’s dual, with neither team able to score through the first three-and-a-half innings. The Yellow Jackets threatened in the second inning when Brooke Bailey led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt. Konderik struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
UW-Superior had another opportunity in the third, but a fantastic play from Chrissy Sward ended the rally. With two outs and runner on second, Katie Moench dropped a single into left field. Sward charged to recover the ball and delivered a perfect one-hopper to gun Redlich out at home.
The Yellow Jackets threatened yet again in the top half of the fourth. Erin Kegley doubled down the left field line to start the inning and then advanced to third on a sac bunt. Konderik settled down from there, getting Jamie Lovstad to pop up to first and striking out Kacy Johnston to end the inning.
Minnesota’s bats had a tough time solving Yellow Jacket pitcher Nichole Tessier early on, as she faced just one more than the minimum through three innings. The Gophers finally put together a rally in the fourth. Sward and Higginbotham led off with back-to-back singles to center. Parks then doubled down the left field line to score the first two runs of the game. Meyer followed with another single to score Bethany Wolvington, who pinch ran for Parks, to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota struck again in the sixth. Parks and Meyer led off with back-to-back singles and both moved up a base on a sac bunt by Mandy Valadez. Amber Nelsen then flew out to center to score Sila Fernandez, who ran for Parks, to extend the Gophers’ lead to 4-0.
UW-Superior broke up the shutout with a run in the seventh and threatened to make it an even closer game by loading the bases. Konderik again settled down to get the final two outs. The inning was highlighted by a brilliant diving catch by Casey Wheeler in center field, robbing UW-Superior’s Alyson Lunberg of a hit and Minnesota came away with the 4-1 victory.
The Gophers wasted little time scoring in the second game, putting two runs on the board in the first and another in the second. Conway started the first inning with a single through the left side of the infield and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Nelsen. Higginbotham then delivered a triple over the center fielder’s head to give the Gophers an early lead. After Parks walked, she was replaced by Bethany Wolvington on the base paths. The Gophers put on a steal, and Higginbotham scored when Wolvington was thrown out at second.
Shannon Stemper used some heads-up baserunning to score another run in the second. After singling to right field to start the inning, she advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third and later scored on a groundout by Conway to third base.
Minnesota batted around and scored five runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Conway doubled to score the Gophers’ first run, and Nelsen followed with an RBI triple. With two outs in the inning, Minnesota got consecutive singles from Meyer, Heidi Carls and Casey Wheeler to put the game away.
Hassett faced just four more than the minimum in a dominant performance from the circle, striking out 11 and allowing just two hits in the shutout.
The Golden Gophers will wrap up their fall season next Saturday when they host St. Cloud State in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Players Mentioned
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