University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Loses Game One Heartbreaker, Drops Doubleheader in Louisville
3/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Golden Gopher softball team suffered a disappointing final day at the rain-altered Louisville Tournament Monday afternoon, losing both games of a doubleheader with the Louisville Cardinals at Ulmer Stadium in Kentucky.
Minnesota took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning during game one, but surrendered four runs in the final two innings to lose a 5-4 eight-inning heartbreaker. The Gophers followed that with a 9-3 loss in game two to drop their record to 17-8 overall.
Monday was originally scheduled to be a travel day for the Gophers, who are set to begin Big Ten play March 28 at Michigan State. But Saturday’s Louisville Tournament action was canceled due to rain, and the Gophers and Cardinals instead decided to play a make-up doubleheader Monday afternoon.
The Gophers will travel to Evansville, Ind. Tuesday for a single game before crossing the border back into Kentucky for a contest with the Lady Wildcats in Lexington Wednesday afternoon.
Game one appeared to be in the books for the Gophers, who jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind ace Briana Hassett. Freshman Natalie Neal drove in Amber Nelsen with an RBI single in the second, and Minnesota tacked on another run in the third when Sila Fernandez tripled and was brought in by a Shannon Stemper sacrifice fly.
After the Cardinals moved to within a run at 2-1 in the sixth, Minnesota answered when Fernandez drove in Colleen Powers with an infield hit during the next inning. But the Cardinals managed to tie the game in the seventh against Hassett on a two-RBI single by Kassie Standfill.
The Gophers re-took the lead in the top of the eighth, as Amber Nelsen connected on Minnesota’s second triple of the game to drive in pinch runner Bethany Wolvington. But Louisville’s Melissa Roth answered with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the frame to give Louisville the dramatic win.
Hassett (11-3) suffered her first loss since Feb. 17, tossing all seven and two-thirds innings.
Minnesota quickly fell behind 4-0 after one inning of game two, but stormed back to with a run by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. Barnes reached base for the third time on the day with an RBI double, and fellow freshman Brianna Sudenga drove in two more with a bases-loaded single.
But the Cardinals put five more runs on the board in the fifth to extend their lead and improve their record to 12-11 on the season.
Katie Dalen (6-5) allowed nine hits and all nine runs in the game two loss.
The Gophers will continue their spring break road trip Tuesday against the Purple Aces of Evansville University. That game will begin at 3 p.m. (CT).
Minnesota took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning during game one, but surrendered four runs in the final two innings to lose a 5-4 eight-inning heartbreaker. The Gophers followed that with a 9-3 loss in game two to drop their record to 17-8 overall.
Monday was originally scheduled to be a travel day for the Gophers, who are set to begin Big Ten play March 28 at Michigan State. But Saturday’s Louisville Tournament action was canceled due to rain, and the Gophers and Cardinals instead decided to play a make-up doubleheader Monday afternoon.
The Gophers will travel to Evansville, Ind. Tuesday for a single game before crossing the border back into Kentucky for a contest with the Lady Wildcats in Lexington Wednesday afternoon.
Game one appeared to be in the books for the Gophers, who jumped out to an early 2-0 lead behind ace Briana Hassett. Freshman Natalie Neal drove in Amber Nelsen with an RBI single in the second, and Minnesota tacked on another run in the third when Sila Fernandez tripled and was brought in by a Shannon Stemper sacrifice fly.
After the Cardinals moved to within a run at 2-1 in the sixth, Minnesota answered when Fernandez drove in Colleen Powers with an infield hit during the next inning. But the Cardinals managed to tie the game in the seventh against Hassett on a two-RBI single by Kassie Standfill.
The Gophers re-took the lead in the top of the eighth, as Amber Nelsen connected on Minnesota’s second triple of the game to drive in pinch runner Bethany Wolvington. But Louisville’s Melissa Roth answered with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the frame to give Louisville the dramatic win.
Hassett (11-3) suffered her first loss since Feb. 17, tossing all seven and two-thirds innings.
Minnesota quickly fell behind 4-0 after one inning of game two, but stormed back to with a run by scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. Barnes reached base for the third time on the day with an RBI double, and fellow freshman Brianna Sudenga drove in two more with a bases-loaded single.
But the Cardinals put five more runs on the board in the fifth to extend their lead and improve their record to 12-11 on the season.
Katie Dalen (6-5) allowed nine hits and all nine runs in the game two loss.
The Gophers will continue their spring break road trip Tuesday against the Purple Aces of Evansville University. That game will begin at 3 p.m. (CT).
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