University of Minnesota Athletics
Postseason Push Comes Down to Final Weekend
5/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MINNESOTA vs. WISCONSIN
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Facility: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium (1,000)
Date: Saturday, May 5, 12 p.m.*
..........Sunday, May 6, 12 p.m.
Live Video: Live video of both games against the Badgers will be available in the Gold Zone, the premium site for Gopher athletics.
Live Stats: Live stats for both games against the Badgers will be available on Gophersports.com. To access live stats, go the softball schedule page and click on the link on the right side next to the appropriate game.
* Note: Senior Day has been moved to Saturday. Further details below.
It All Comes Down to This
The University of Minnesota softball team’s postseason push comes down to the final weekend of the regular season with a series against arch-rival Wisconsin. The Golden Gophers host the Badgers in single games at noon on both Saturday and Sunday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium, needing two wins and some help to advance to the Big Ten Tournament.
The Series vs. Wisconsin
Wisconsin holds a narrow 12-10 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools, which dates back to 1996. The longest winning streak in the series is just four games, with the two teams splitting three of the last four meetings and four of the last six.
The Playoff Picture
Minnesota is one of four teams still in the hunt for one of the final two spots in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, along with Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin. With a 3-8 record, the Gophers currently sit in 10th place in the conference standings but are within striking distance of each of the three teams ahead of them.
The playoff scenario is pretty clear-cut: the Gophers need to sweep Wisconsin and need either Michigan State or Penn State to get swept. The Spartans and Nittany Lions play Michigan and Ohio State, respectively, the No. 3 and No. 1 teams in the conference standings. If the Gophers and Badgers split, both teams are out and MSU and PSU will advance to the Big Ten Tournament.
Here is a breakdown of the battle for the final two spots in the Big Ten Tournament:
Rk...Team............Record...............Rem. Games
7......Michigan St.........428 (6-8)........vs. Michigan*
........With 2 wins.........500
........With Split.............437
........With 2 losses......375
8......Penn State..........416 (5-7)......vs. Ohio State
........With 2 wins.........500
........With Split.............428
........With 2 losses......357
9......Wisconsin...........428 (5-11)....vs. Minnesota
........With 2 wins.........388
........With Split.............333
........With 2 losses......277
10....Minnesota...........272 (3-8)......vs. Wisconsin
........With 2 wins.........384
........With Split.............307
........With 2 losses......230
* Indicates a home-and-home series.
TDS Border Battle
A lot is riding on Minnesota’s series with the Wisconsin Badgers this weekend. Not only does the series have major playoff implications but it will also determine the winner of the third annual TDS Border Battle, the annual battle for border supremacy between the two schools’ athletic departments. Wisconsin currently leads the race by a slim 10-point margin, with both of the softball games counting for 20 points apiece. Men’s and women’s track and field are the only other sports still to be decided, but the school’s are expected to split that battle.
Senior Salute
Minnesota’s five seniors will be honored for their contributions to the Golden Gopher softball program during an on-field ceremony prior to the first pitch on Saturday. A collection of individuals from every corner of the country, this group came to Minnesota with their one common bond being softball. Not only have they been valuable contributors to the team’s success on the field, but they have all been true ambassadors of the University of Minnesota while embodying everything it means to be a student-athlete.
A native of Torrance, Calif., Mandy Valadez has had a breakout season during the 2007 campaign, ranking at or near the top of every offensive statistical category. She leads the team in RBI and ranks second or tied for second in batting average, home runs and slugging percentage. After spending the first half of her career primarily as a pitcher, Valadez moved to third base at the end of the 2006 season and has made it her permanent position this year. A kinesiology major, Valadez was an Academic All-Big Ten selection and U of M Scholar-Athlete in 2005 and has future plans of going to grad school to become a physical therapist.
Tucson, Ariz., native Lisa Parks came to Minnesota just two years ago after spending two seasons at Pima Community College in her home state. She was a two-time First-Team Junior College All-American after leading the nation in RBI and ranking second in the country in home runs in back-to-back seasons. Parks has brought a new dimension to the Gopher lineup over the last two seasons with her ability to change the game with one swing of the bat. Despite wearing the maroon and gold for just two years, Parks has belted 14 home runs, a total which ranks seventh in the school’s career record books. She has boosted her numbers across the board this season and leads the team in home runs, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
A native of Bloomington, Minn., Katie Meyer has established herself as one of the team’s primary leaders both on and off the field throughout her career. As the team’s designated player, she has been relied upon to provide a consistent bat in the middle of the lineup. Off the field, she is a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and U of M Scholar-Athlete majoring in Cinema and Media Culture. In addition, Meyer has served on the executive board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee each of the last two years and has been involved in a number of volunteer activities both on campus and in the Twin Cities community. The consummate teammate, Meyer was honored with the team’s Blue Collar Award for her determination and enthusiasm on and off the field as well as the Severson/Coaches Award for outstanding dedication to the program last season.
Rene Konderik has been one of Minnesota’s most pivotal role players throughout her four years with the Golden Gophers. A native of Peoria, Ariz., Konderik has seen action in 133 games during her career with 75 of those appearances coming in the circle, mostly out of the bullpen. More than half of her appearances this season have come in relief and she has finished 10 ball games, both totals which rank among the top 10 in the Big Ten Conference. A four-time letterwinner, Konderik has thrown 13 complete games in her career with four shutouts.
A native of Tallahassee, Fla., Megan Higginbotham will finish her career as one of the most productive players ever to lace up the cleats for the Golden Gophers. She has led Minnesota in nearly every offensive statistical category in each of her four years while starting all 202 games of her collegiate career. Higginbotham’s .411 batting average during the 2005 season was the fifth-highest in school history as she earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors and was an All-Region selection for the second time in her career. She has left her mark on a number of the school’s career record charts, currently ranking third with 21 home runs and fourth with 43 doubles and 68 stolen bases. She stands among the top 10 in a number of other categories and also holds a pair of single-game records.
Defending its Borders
Minnesota currently boasts a 7-1 record on the season against schools from states with which it shares a border. With a two-game series against Wisconsin this weekend, the Gophers hope to add to their win total as they fight for one of the final spots in the Big Ten Tournament.
Minnesota has posted six straight winning seasons against schools from neighboring states. During that stretch, the Gophers have a record of 48-27 (.640) against their border rivals.
A Game of Firsts
Three Golden Gophers collected career firsts in the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader against Wisconsin-Green Bay, propelling Minnesota to a 9-1 victory over the Phoenix. Redshirt freshman Heidi Carls picked up the first RBI of her career with a base hit in the bottom of the fifth and came around to score her first run later in the inning. Junior transfer Sila Fernandez, who is primarily used as a pinch runner, collected her first hit in a maroon and gold uniform with a leadoff single in the sixth, followed by Green Bay native Lauren Pockl’s first career home run, a deep blast over the left field fence.
A Huge Upset
Minnesota’s victory over No. 9 Michigan last Friday was its first over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 24 Pacific on March 11, 2005. It was the highest ranked opponent the Golden Gophers have beaten since knocking off No. 7 Cal State Fullerton on March 1, 2003, which snapped a 32-game winning streak for the Titans.
Power Boost
After hitting just 10 home runs in 50 games as a team last year, the Golden Gophers have more than doubled that output with 25 round-trippers in 44 games this season.
Lisa Parks, who joined the Gophers last season from Pima Community College, leads the team with eight home runs on the season, surpassing her output of six from last season. She has two multi-homer games on the year.
Mandy Valadez and Megan Higginbotham are tied for second on the team with seven home runs apiece. Higginbotham is Minnesota’s active career home run leader with 21, a total which ranks third in the Minnesota record book. Parks now has 14 total for her career to rank seventh.
Minnesota’s Career Home Run Leaders:
1. 51 - Jordanne Nygren (1999-2003)
2. 43 - Shannon Beeler (1996-99)
3. 21 - Megan Higginbotham (2004-pres.)
4. 18 - Shelly Nichols (2000-03)
5. 16 - Angel Braden (1998-2001)
6. 15 - Jennifer McGuinness (1991-94)
7. 14 - Lisa Parks (2006-pres.)
