University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Team Shuts Down UW-Green Bay
4/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota softball team recorded a pair of shutouts in sweeping Wisconsin-Green Bay on Tuesday afternoon. The Gophers (17-16 overall, 2-4 Big Ten) moved back above the .500 mark by downing the Phoenix, 2-0 and 5-0, to keep their recent momentum rolling with four straight wins.
Rene Konderik and Katie Dalen allowed just seven hits combined over the two games, each going the distance to pick up their fifth wins of the season respectively. Konderik completed her second straight strong outing in the circle, scattering just three hits while striking out five to get the victory in a pitcher’s duel in Game 1. Dalen struck out eight Phoenix batters and allowed just four hits in the second game to push her record to 5-4 on the season.
The Gophers used a two-out rally in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie and take the victory in the first game. Colleen Powers got things started by drawing a walk before Chrissy Sward beat out an infield single to give Minnesota runners on first and second with Megan Higginbotham coming to the plate. Higginbotham delivered what turned out to be the eventual game-winning hit by smashing a triple to the gap in right centerfield to score the first two runs of the game.
It was all the Gophers would need, as Konderik closed the deal on the Phoenix in the bottom half of the inning. After holding the UW-Green Bay lineup in check all day, Konderik faced her first serious threat in the seventh when the Phoenix had runners on second and third with no outs, but she quickly put the rally to a halt by coaxing three straight ground ball outs to end the game.
Higginbotham finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Sward went 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Neither team was able to generate much offense until the final inning, as Konderik and UW-Green Bay starter Anna Bluemel battled back-and-forth. Konderik retired the first five Phoenix hitters of the game without a ball getting out of the infield before Andrea Kurzynske punched a single up the middle with two outs in the third. For the game, 19 of the 21 batters Konderik retired never got the ball out of the infield, as she forced nine ground ball outs and got five pop-ups in addition to her five strikeouts.
In Game 2, the top four hitters in the order provided all of the offense for the Gophers as they combined to go 8-for-13 with five runs score and four RBI. Colleen Conway led the way, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Higginbotham collected her fifth multi-hit game in the last six contests, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Meyer and Mandy Valadez both had two RBI in the game, with Meyer going 2-for-3 and Valadez 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Minnesota jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the third inning, with the first three batters in the inning coming around to score. Higginbotham started the rally with a single to center field, and Conway reached on an error on a sac bunt attempt when the throw by the third baseman was off target. Valadez and Meyer then followed with back-to-back singles to plate the first two runs of the game. Valadez later scored when the second baseman misplayed the throw from the catcher on a steal by Bethany Wolvington.
The Gophers added a run in the fifth when Conway scored on a sac fly from Meyer. Conway led off the inning with an infield single and moved up to second by beating out the throw on Valadez’s fielder’s choice to the shortstop. A double steal opened the door for the sacrifice by Meyer.
Valadez provided Minnesota with another insurance run in the seventh with her second RBI of the game to score Higginbotham.
Dalen breezed through the UW-Green Bay lineup, allowing just one extra-base hit while scattering three singles in the game. She struck out five of the first eight batters she faced to set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
The Gophers return home to face North Dakota State in a doubleheader at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on Thursday starting at 4 p.m. Minnesota will look to continue to build momentum as they head down the home stretch of the Big Ten season, which begins when No. 10 Northwestern comes to town for a doubleheader at noon on Sunday. All four upcoming games can be viewed live in the Gold Zone.
Rene Konderik and Katie Dalen allowed just seven hits combined over the two games, each going the distance to pick up their fifth wins of the season respectively. Konderik completed her second straight strong outing in the circle, scattering just three hits while striking out five to get the victory in a pitcher’s duel in Game 1. Dalen struck out eight Phoenix batters and allowed just four hits in the second game to push her record to 5-4 on the season.
The Gophers used a two-out rally in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie and take the victory in the first game. Colleen Powers got things started by drawing a walk before Chrissy Sward beat out an infield single to give Minnesota runners on first and second with Megan Higginbotham coming to the plate. Higginbotham delivered what turned out to be the eventual game-winning hit by smashing a triple to the gap in right centerfield to score the first two runs of the game.
It was all the Gophers would need, as Konderik closed the deal on the Phoenix in the bottom half of the inning. After holding the UW-Green Bay lineup in check all day, Konderik faced her first serious threat in the seventh when the Phoenix had runners on second and third with no outs, but she quickly put the rally to a halt by coaxing three straight ground ball outs to end the game.
Higginbotham finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Sward went 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Neither team was able to generate much offense until the final inning, as Konderik and UW-Green Bay starter Anna Bluemel battled back-and-forth. Konderik retired the first five Phoenix hitters of the game without a ball getting out of the infield before Andrea Kurzynske punched a single up the middle with two outs in the third. For the game, 19 of the 21 batters Konderik retired never got the ball out of the infield, as she forced nine ground ball outs and got five pop-ups in addition to her five strikeouts.
In Game 2, the top four hitters in the order provided all of the offense for the Gophers as they combined to go 8-for-13 with five runs score and four RBI. Colleen Conway led the way, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored, while Higginbotham collected her fifth multi-hit game in the last six contests, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. Meyer and Mandy Valadez both had two RBI in the game, with Meyer going 2-for-3 and Valadez 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Minnesota jumped out to a three-run lead in the top of the third inning, with the first three batters in the inning coming around to score. Higginbotham started the rally with a single to center field, and Conway reached on an error on a sac bunt attempt when the throw by the third baseman was off target. Valadez and Meyer then followed with back-to-back singles to plate the first two runs of the game. Valadez later scored when the second baseman misplayed the throw from the catcher on a steal by Bethany Wolvington.
The Gophers added a run in the fifth when Conway scored on a sac fly from Meyer. Conway led off the inning with an infield single and moved up to second by beating out the throw on Valadez’s fielder’s choice to the shortstop. A double steal opened the door for the sacrifice by Meyer.
Valadez provided Minnesota with another insurance run in the seventh with her second RBI of the game to score Higginbotham.
Dalen breezed through the UW-Green Bay lineup, allowing just one extra-base hit while scattering three singles in the game. She struck out five of the first eight batters she faced to set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
The Gophers return home to face North Dakota State in a doubleheader at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on Thursday starting at 4 p.m. Minnesota will look to continue to build momentum as they head down the home stretch of the Big Ten season, which begins when No. 10 Northwestern comes to town for a doubleheader at noon on Sunday. All four upcoming games can be viewed live in the Gold Zone.
Players Mentioned
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