University of Minnesota Athletics
First-Inning Outburst Sinks Gophers in Tourney Finale
2/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Golden Gopher softball team lost its final game at the JU/Best Western Invitational Sunday morning, falling 3-1 to the Southern Illinois Salukis in Jacksonville, Fla. The Gophers alllowed three runs in the first inning and could not mount a comeback, dropping their overall record to 3-3.
Against starting pitcher Briana Hassett (who entered the game with a 3-0 record), the Salukis strung together a double and three singles to mount an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. But Hassett was nearly spotless the rest of the way, settling down and allowing just three hits (two singles and a double) in her final five innings of work.
At the plate, the Gophers simply could not muster enough to overcome the early deficit. Saluki starter Katie McNamara improved to 3-0 on the season and recorded her second victory over Minnesota on the weekend. The Saluki won the pitcher's duel between the two juniors, out-dueling Hassett by scattering three hits over seven innings.
Minnesota mounted a threat in the fourth inning (putting runners on second and third with one out), but Amber Nelsen and Briana Sudenga both popped up on the infield to kill the rally.
The Gophers' lone run of the early morning match-up came in the top half of the sixth inning. Colleen Conway reached base on a wild pitch after striking out, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a Shannon Stemper single. The RBI was the third of the season for Stemper.
The Salukis' win was their second over Minnesota in as many days. Southern Illinois also earned a come-from-behind 11-4 win over the Gophers on Saturday.
Co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering's team will now return home, as their next games will take place next weekend at the H.H.H. Metrodome. Minnesota will host the 2008 Metrodome Softball Classic this Thursday through Saturday in Minneapolis. Seven different teams will play 18 games indoors during the four-day event, including Minnesota, Iowa, Northern Iowa, Drake, Arkansas, Western Illinois and Tennessee Tech.
The Gophers' first game will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday evening.
