Gopher Softball Sweeps Indiana in Sunday Doubleheader

The University of Minnesota softball team took two games from the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Golden Gophers (15-16, 2-4 Big Ten) defeated IU 5-4 in extra innings on the strength of Shannon Stemper's game-winning single in the bottom of the eighth of game one and carried the momentum into the second game, downing the Hoosiers 3-1.

After Indiana took the lead on a home run from Kim Richards in the top of the eighth in game one, Colleen Conway led off the bottom half of the inning by beating out a single to the pitcher. After Minnesota's next two batters were retired, Katie Meyer kept the game alive with a double to left center field to give the Gophers runners on second and third with two outs for Stemper, who delivered the RBI single to right center field to bring both runners home and give the Gophers the victory.

Senior Rene Konderik threw a terrific game in the circle to get the win for Minnesota, allowing just the one run on six hits while striking out seven in 6.1 innings of relief. Konderik entered the game in the top of the second trailing 3-1 with runners on the corners and one out. She retired the first seven batters she faced before Emily Bergeson hit a come-backer that took a nasty hop and bounced right up into Konderik's face in the sixth. Konderik was able to shake it off, however, and pitched solidly the rest of the way to collect her fourth win of the season.

Lisa Parks went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Megan Higginbotham went 1-for-2 with two runs scored in the game.

Indiana jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single from Rachel Terry that scored two runs. With runners on second and third with no outs, Minnesota starter Briana Hassett struck out the next two Hoosier batters before giving up the hit to Terry.

The Gophers got a run back in the bottom of the first with Parks' first RBI of the game. Higginbotham drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to second when Mandy Valadez also reached on a base on balls. Parks then hit a bloop single that dropped just out of the reach of Hoosier left fielder Julia Hamilton to make the score 2-1.

The Hoosiers pushed their lead back to two runs in the top of the second when Heather Hohs hit a double to the gap in left center to score Bergeson who reached on a walk. After a single by Sarah Padove gave IU runners on the corners with one out, Konderik entered the game and retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Minnesota came back to tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the third. With one out in the inning, Higginbotham hit a sharp single to right field, stole second and then advanced to third on a groundout by Conway. Valadez then stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI single past a diving Padove at second base to bring Higginbotham home. Valadez moved up to second on a wild pitch later in the inning, and Parks tied the game with an RBI double courtesy of the sun. Parks battled through a 10-pitch at bat before hitting a high fly ball to right field, which dropped behind Hohs who lost the ball in the sun.

Neither team was able to put a run on the board through the next four innings before Richards took the first pitch she saw from Konderik over the right field wall to give Indiana the lead in the eighth inning. Minnesota responded to pick up their most dramatic victory of the season.

Katie Dalen went the distance in the second game, striking out seven while allowing one run on just four hits to even her record at 4-4 on the year. The first five outs Dalen recorded were all courtesy of strikes and she maintained her command throughout the game.

Higginbotham belted three hits in four at-bats and scored two runs in the game, while Conway went 2-for-2 to lead Minnesota offensively.

The Gophers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Colleen Powers scored on a single from Conway. Powers led off the inning with a double off the glove of Hohs in right field and advanced to third on a single from Chrissy Sward before Conway brought her home by lacing a single down the left field line.

Minnesota pushed its lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning on a scary play that forced IU starter Jennifer Moore out of the game. With Higginbotham standing on second and Valadez at first, Parks hit a laser back to the circle that ricocheted off Moore's hip and flew all the way into left field. Moore immediately dropped to the ground as the entire stadium sat in silence. Moore got up under her own power and actually attempted to throw a warm-up pitch, but there was just no way she was going to be able to go. Parks was credited with an RBI single on the play as Higginbotham came around to score from second base.

Indiana got a run back with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Tory Yamaguchi. The Hoosiers loaded the bases later in the inning, but Dalen got Richards to pop up to the shortstop to avoid further damage.

The Gophers put the game away with an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Higginbotham doubled to left field and then advanced to third on an infield single from Conway. With runners on the corners and one out, Valadez laced an RBI singe past Terry at first base to score Higginbotham and make the final 3-1.

With the two wins today, the Gophers surpassed their conference win total from last season and completed their first sweep in Big Ten play since April 22-23, 2005, which also came against Indiana.

The Gophers will head to Wisconsin-Green Bay on Tuesday, Apr. 17, to make up last Wednesday's doubleheader which was postponed. Minnesota's next home game is on Thursday, Apr. 19, in a doubleheader against North Dakota State beginning at 4 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Colleen Conway

Katie Dalen

Briana Hassett

Megan Higginbotham

Rene Konderik

Katie Meyer

Lisa Parks

Colleen Powers

Shannon Stemper

Chrissy Sward

Mandy Valadez

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