University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Softball Heads Back South to UT-Martin Tournament
2/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (11-5, 0-0)
at
2008 Tennessee-Martin Hospitality House Invitational
Location: Marten, Tenn.
Facility: Martin Recreational Complex
Host: Tennessee-Martin University
Dates: Fri.-Sun., Feb. 29-March 2
Participating Schools: Tennessee-Martin, Dartmouth, Northern Iowa, Ball State, Indiana State, Minnesota
Minnesota's Tournament Schedule:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29
3 p.m. Minnesota vs. Dartmouth
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
10 a.m. Northern Iowa vs. Minnesota
3 p.m. Ball State vs. Minnesota
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
10 a.m. UT Martin vs. Minnesota
12:30 p.m. Indiana State vs. Minnesota
MINNESOTA HEADS BACK SOUTH TO UT-MARTIN TOURNAMENT
The Gopher softball team embarks on its fourth tournament of the 2008 season this weekend, traveling to Martin, Tenn. for the UT-Martin Hospitality House Classic. The Gophers will play five games during the round-robin event one on Friday (Dartmouth at 3 p.m.), two on Saturday (Northern Iowa at 10 a.m., Ball State at 3 p.m.) and two more on Sunday (UT-Martin at 10 a.m. and Indiana State at 12:30 p.m.).
This is the first-ever appearance for Minnesota at the UT-Martin Tournament. Minnesota has never faced the host Skyhakws (members of the Ohio Valley Conference). Minnesota is 1-0 all-time against Dartmouth (Ivy League), 26-10 against UNI (including a loss earlier this year at the Metrodome Classic), 2-0 all-time against the Sycamores of Indiana State and 2-1 against Ball State.
GOPHERS IMPRESSIVE IN GEORGIA
After an up-and-down Metrodome Classic, the Minnesota softball team put forth their most impressive stretch of the young season last weekend at the Georgia Southern Eagle Classic in Statesboro, Ga. After Friday’s games were rained out, the Gophers stormed to a 5-0 record in just two days. Minnesota was led offensively by senior Amber Nelsen, who hit .533 over two days with four extra-base hits in 15 at-bats (including her first Golden Gopher home run).
In the circle, both Katie Dalen and Briana Hassett were outstanding (combining for a 0.41 ERA in five games), but it was Hassett that really blew away the competition. She earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors by tossing two shutouts in her three starts, allowing just one earned run in 20 innings pitched while striking out 31.
Saturday, the Gophers used a six-run fourth-inning rally to down Oakland University 9-2 before Hassett shut out Jacksonville 1-0. Another six-run rally (this one in the bottom of the sixth) ended the game early as the Gophers won 8-0 over Georgia Southern in another Hassett shutout.
Sunday, Minnesota won the tournament championship with a 3-0 win over Oakland (a complete game shutout by Dalen, her first of the season) and a 4-1 win over Georgia Southern.
HASSETT EARNS BIG TEN AWARD
Junior Briana Hassett posted a 0.35 ERA during the two-day Eagle Classic to lower her season ERA to 1.66, earning the Big Ten’s Pitcher of the Week honor. The Eagan, Minn. native allowed only eight hits all weekend, lowering her season-long opponent’s batting average to .164. She is now 7-2 this year, just four wins shy of her career-best win total of 11 (set last season).
Hassett becomes the first Gopher pitcher in nearly four years to take home the award. Piper Marten, currently the team’s pitching coach and Minnesota’s all-time strikeout leader, last earned the laurel in May of 2004.
STAT SHEET STANDOUTS
Amber Nelsen hit .533 during the Gophers’ five weekend games in Statesboro, hitting three doubles, a home run (her first as a Gopher) and driving in a team-high five runs. She raised her batting average 100 points in the two days.
Colleen Conway also hit .474 at the Eagle Classic with two stolen bases, and freshman first baseman Malisa Barnes clocked in with a .400 tournament batting average (6-for-15).
But the Gophers’ pitching staff was the real story at Georgia Southern. In their third tournament of the season, Minnesota hurlers Briana Hassett and Katie Dalen only allowed two earned runs in 34 innings pitched (a 0.41 team ERA) and limited opponents to a measly .120 batting average, all while striking out a 52 hitters.
PITCHERS DUELS
The Golden Gophers’ 1-0 win over Jacksonville Saturday continued what has been a surprising trend the past two seasons. Minnesota played in six 1-0 games last season, winning four of them. In fact, Saturday’s winning pitcher (Briana Hassett) was the starting pitcher in five of those pitcher’s duels, picking up all four wins.
The Gophers also played in two 2-0 games (winning both) on April 24 and 27. Hassett was the starting pitcher in each of those games the first her 14-strikeout no-hitter against South Dakota State, and the second her two-hit shutout against No. 15 Michigan.
at
2008 Tennessee-Martin Hospitality House Invitational
Location: Marten, Tenn.
Facility: Martin Recreational Complex
Host: Tennessee-Martin University
Dates: Fri.-Sun., Feb. 29-March 2
Participating Schools: Tennessee-Martin, Dartmouth, Northern Iowa, Ball State, Indiana State, Minnesota
Minnesota's Tournament Schedule:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29
3 p.m. Minnesota vs. Dartmouth
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
10 a.m. Northern Iowa vs. Minnesota
3 p.m. Ball State vs. Minnesota
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
10 a.m. UT Martin vs. Minnesota
12:30 p.m. Indiana State vs. Minnesota
MINNESOTA HEADS BACK SOUTH TO UT-MARTIN TOURNAMENT
The Gopher softball team embarks on its fourth tournament of the 2008 season this weekend, traveling to Martin, Tenn. for the UT-Martin Hospitality House Classic. The Gophers will play five games during the round-robin event one on Friday (Dartmouth at 3 p.m.), two on Saturday (Northern Iowa at 10 a.m., Ball State at 3 p.m.) and two more on Sunday (UT-Martin at 10 a.m. and Indiana State at 12:30 p.m.).
This is the first-ever appearance for Minnesota at the UT-Martin Tournament. Minnesota has never faced the host Skyhakws (members of the Ohio Valley Conference). Minnesota is 1-0 all-time against Dartmouth (Ivy League), 26-10 against UNI (including a loss earlier this year at the Metrodome Classic), 2-0 all-time against the Sycamores of Indiana State and 2-1 against Ball State.
GOPHERS IMPRESSIVE IN GEORGIA
After an up-and-down Metrodome Classic, the Minnesota softball team put forth their most impressive stretch of the young season last weekend at the Georgia Southern Eagle Classic in Statesboro, Ga. After Friday’s games were rained out, the Gophers stormed to a 5-0 record in just two days. Minnesota was led offensively by senior Amber Nelsen, who hit .533 over two days with four extra-base hits in 15 at-bats (including her first Golden Gopher home run).
In the circle, both Katie Dalen and Briana Hassett were outstanding (combining for a 0.41 ERA in five games), but it was Hassett that really blew away the competition. She earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors by tossing two shutouts in her three starts, allowing just one earned run in 20 innings pitched while striking out 31.
Saturday, the Gophers used a six-run fourth-inning rally to down Oakland University 9-2 before Hassett shut out Jacksonville 1-0. Another six-run rally (this one in the bottom of the sixth) ended the game early as the Gophers won 8-0 over Georgia Southern in another Hassett shutout.
Sunday, Minnesota won the tournament championship with a 3-0 win over Oakland (a complete game shutout by Dalen, her first of the season) and a 4-1 win over Georgia Southern.
HASSETT EARNS BIG TEN AWARD
Junior Briana Hassett posted a 0.35 ERA during the two-day Eagle Classic to lower her season ERA to 1.66, earning the Big Ten’s Pitcher of the Week honor. The Eagan, Minn. native allowed only eight hits all weekend, lowering her season-long opponent’s batting average to .164. She is now 7-2 this year, just four wins shy of her career-best win total of 11 (set last season).
Hassett becomes the first Gopher pitcher in nearly four years to take home the award. Piper Marten, currently the team’s pitching coach and Minnesota’s all-time strikeout leader, last earned the laurel in May of 2004.
STAT SHEET STANDOUTS
Amber Nelsen hit .533 during the Gophers’ five weekend games in Statesboro, hitting three doubles, a home run (her first as a Gopher) and driving in a team-high five runs. She raised her batting average 100 points in the two days.
Colleen Conway also hit .474 at the Eagle Classic with two stolen bases, and freshman first baseman Malisa Barnes clocked in with a .400 tournament batting average (6-for-15).
But the Gophers’ pitching staff was the real story at Georgia Southern. In their third tournament of the season, Minnesota hurlers Briana Hassett and Katie Dalen only allowed two earned runs in 34 innings pitched (a 0.41 team ERA) and limited opponents to a measly .120 batting average, all while striking out a 52 hitters.
PITCHERS DUELS
The Golden Gophers’ 1-0 win over Jacksonville Saturday continued what has been a surprising trend the past two seasons. Minnesota played in six 1-0 games last season, winning four of them. In fact, Saturday’s winning pitcher (Briana Hassett) was the starting pitcher in five of those pitcher’s duels, picking up all four wins.
The Gophers also played in two 2-0 games (winning both) on April 24 and 27. Hassett was the starting pitcher in each of those games the first her 14-strikeout no-hitter against South Dakota State, and the second her two-hit shutout against No. 15 Michigan.
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballHighlights: Gophers 2, Iowa 0
Friday, March 20
Highlights: Gophers 5, SIUE 0
Tuesday, March 10
Highlights: Gophers 4, Indiana 6
Sunday, March 08
Highlights: Gophers 2, Indiana 0
Friday, March 06