University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Softball Opens Big Ten With Michigan State, Northwestern
3/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (17-8) at MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (14-13)
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Facility: Old College Field
Date: Friday, March 28, 4 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, 12 p.m.
Live Stats: Live stats of both games against the Spartans will be available through Michigan State’s website at www.msuspartans.com.
SERIES INFORMATION:
Series: Minnesota leads 50-28
Current Streak: Michigan State has won four straight
Longest Minnesota Streak: 14 (5/12/90-5/15/93)
Longest MSU Streak: 4 (5/1/99-4/14/01)
Last Meeting: MSU 4-3, 3-1 at MSU. (4/29/07)
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (17-8) at #16 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (13-9)
Location: Evanston, Ill.
Facility: Sharon J. Drysdale Field (500)
Date: Sunday, Apr. 22, 12/2 p.m.
Live Stats: Live stats of will be available via nusports.com
SERIES INFORMATION:
Series: Northwestern leads 41-39
Current Streak: Northwestern has won seven straight
Longest Minnesota Streak: 7 (5/6/90-4/14/91)
Longest N’western Streak: 7 (twice, last 5/13/94-5/11/95)
Last Meeting: NU 7-1 (5 innings), 4/22/07
GOPHERS OPEN BIG TEN SEASON WITH SPARTANS, WILDCATS
Despite their recent two-game skid and constant battles with Mother Nature, the 17-8 Golden Gopher softball team will begin Big Ten play this weekend against Michigan State and Northwestern. Minnesota is scheduled to play the Spartans Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Old College Field in East Lansing, as well as Saturday at noon.
Sunday, the Gophers will play a doubleheader with the 16th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats at the newly-renovated Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston, Ill. Those contests are scheduled to begin at noon. The Wildcats are back-to-back College World Series semifinalists.
WEATHER PERMITTING - AGAIN
After enduring seven weather-induced cancellations during the 2007 season, the Golden Gopher softball program hoped for better luck in ’08. So far, that has not been the case. Minnesota has lost seven games already (22 percent) of its original schedule to rain-outs and has battled inclement weather in nearly every tournament this season. The entire Buzz Classic in Statesboro, Georgia was canceled March 7-9, and the March 15-17 Louisville Tournament was significantly altered due to poor field conditions. In addition, the Gophers’ scheduled trips to Evansville (Indiana) and Kentucky March 18-19 were canceled.
A number of Big Ten teams had similar difficulties during the 2007 season, forcing conference officials to waive a rule which states that the Big Ten champion must complete a minimum of 15 its 20 scheduled conference games.
The Gophers finished the season with just 13 regular season conference games, their lowest total ever. Previously, the fewest number of conference games Minnesota played was 15 in 2002. Minnesota had just three games canceled in 2006.
LONG LAYOFF
It has been nearly two weeks since the Golden Gopher softball team took to the field after seeing three games canceled during their trip to Kentucky for the Louisville Tournament. Minnesota last played March 17 (a doubleheader vs. Louisville). The Gophers went 1-3 at the drastically rain-altered Louisville Tournament in Kentucky, losing to No. 9 Michigan (5-1) before beating Miami of Ohio 3-2. The Gophers were then swept in a make-up doubleheader against the Cardinals, falling 5-4 in eight innings and 9-3.
BIG TEN SEASON ARRIVES
Their early non-conference schedule now completed, Minnesota’s attention turns to conference play and the Big Ten. After opening this weekend with Michigan State and Northwestern, the Gophers are set to open their home slate at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium next Saturday (April 4) with Indiana.
The Gophers went 4-9 last year in conference play but had seven Big Ten games canceled due to weather and field conditions.
LIVE ON THE BTN
The Minnesota softball program will have four games broadcast on the Big Ten Network this season, according to an announcement by the network earlier this year. The Gophers' doubleheaders with Purdue (April 6 in Minneapolis) and Iowa (April 20 in Iowa City) will be featured on the BTN.
The Boilermaker - Gopher match-up will be broadcast on a same-day tape delay on the Big Ten Network Sunday, April 6. The doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis, and then be broadcast on television at 5 p.m. Central time.
On Friday April 20, Minnesota's doubleheader with the Iowa Hawkeyes will be shown live from Pearl Field in Iowa City. Those games will begin at 12 p.m.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN STATE
The University of Minnesota softball team was swept in a doubleheader at Michigan State last April 29, falling 4-3 and 5-2 to the Spartans. The Gophers fell to 21-21 overall and 3-8 in the Big Ten, while MSU won its fourth consecutive game to improve to 30-24 and 6-8 in the conference.
In Game 1, the Golden Gophers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning only to have it disappear in the bottom of the seventh, when the Spartans took advantage of a pair of walks to score two runs to escape with the victory.
Michigan State handed Minnesota a 5-2 loss in the second game, using a three-run sixth inning to sweep the doubleheader.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
The Golden Gopher softball team fell to No. 10 Northwestern, 7-1, in a rain-shortened outing last April 22 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The two teams completed the fifth inning before heavy rain began falling, forcing a delay at 1:43 p.m. After waiting it out for two hours and 10 minutes, both teams' coaches agreed to make it official. The second game of the doubleheader was canceled and not rescheduled.
THE SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern leads the all-time series against the Gophers by a slim 41-39 advantage after picking up a win last season and two in 2006. Overall, the Wildcats have won seven in a row in the series during their rise to national prominence.
FIELDING PROWESS
A hallmark of Gopher teams throughout the years has been excellent defense, a trait co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering have emphasized once again this year. In 2007, the Gophers committed 53 errors and posted a .962 fielding percentage as a team. This season, Minnesota has taken its reputation for defensive excellence to a whole new level. The Gophers are 11th in the nation in fielding percentage (.978) through their first 25 games, committing just 16 miscues in 712 possible chances.
For comparison, Gopher opponents have committed 28 errors in 726 chances (.961).
NATIONAL ATTENTION
Despite two less-than-stellar outings at the Louisville Tournament two weeks ago, junior hurler Briana Hassett has established herself as one of the conference’s top pitchers with a breakout performance thus far in 2008. The Eagan, Minn. native boasts an 11-3 record thus far with a 1.54 ERA. She has struck out a whopping 140 hitters in 95.2 innings pitched.
Hassett is beginning to climb the national pitching ranks as the Gophers sit on the verge of the Big Ten season. Below is Hassett’s national ranking in several key statistical categories:
BEATING THE BIG TEN
In addition to her national acclaim, Hassett has been one of the best pitchers in the conference through the season’s first two months. Her 140 punch-outs ranks second among conference hurlers (behind only Northwestern’s Lauren Delaney and her 168) and opponents are hitting a paltry .155 against Hassett this season, also the second-best mark in the conference. The duo of Hassett and fellow junior Katie Dalen leads the Big Ten with 203 strikeouts.
STELLAR START
With a 17-8 record through the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Golden Gophers have assured themselves a winning non-conference mark for the 13th consectutive season. In fact, the Gophers’ .680 winning percentage ranks 89th nationally and their 17 wins is the most in a season’s first 25 games since 2003. The 2003 Golden Gophers, a team that finished 37-23-1 and made an NCAA Tournament appearance, went 17-7-1 in their first 25 contests to open the season.
OUT OF THIS LEAGUE
With an 20-13 record against non-conference opponents last season and 17-8 so far this season, Minnesota has now posted a .500 record or better against non-conference opponents in 13 straight seasons. The last time the Golden Gophers were under .500 against non-conference opponents was in 1995. Since then, Minnesota is 325-163-2 (.661) against teams from outside the Big Ten.
Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Facility: Old College Field
Date: Friday, March 28, 4 p.m. and Saturday, March 29, 12 p.m.
Live Stats: Live stats of both games against the Spartans will be available through Michigan State’s website at www.msuspartans.com.
SERIES INFORMATION:
Series: Minnesota leads 50-28
Current Streak: Michigan State has won four straight
Longest Minnesota Streak: 14 (5/12/90-5/15/93)
Longest MSU Streak: 4 (5/1/99-4/14/01)
Last Meeting: MSU 4-3, 3-1 at MSU. (4/29/07)
MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS (17-8) at #16 NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (13-9)
Location: Evanston, Ill.
Facility: Sharon J. Drysdale Field (500)
Date: Sunday, Apr. 22, 12/2 p.m.
Live Stats: Live stats of will be available via nusports.com
SERIES INFORMATION:
Series: Northwestern leads 41-39
Current Streak: Northwestern has won seven straight
Longest Minnesota Streak: 7 (5/6/90-4/14/91)
Longest N’western Streak: 7 (twice, last 5/13/94-5/11/95)
Last Meeting: NU 7-1 (5 innings), 4/22/07
GOPHERS OPEN BIG TEN SEASON WITH SPARTANS, WILDCATS
Despite their recent two-game skid and constant battles with Mother Nature, the 17-8 Golden Gopher softball team will begin Big Ten play this weekend against Michigan State and Northwestern. Minnesota is scheduled to play the Spartans Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Old College Field in East Lansing, as well as Saturday at noon.
Sunday, the Gophers will play a doubleheader with the 16th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats at the newly-renovated Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston, Ill. Those contests are scheduled to begin at noon. The Wildcats are back-to-back College World Series semifinalists.
WEATHER PERMITTING - AGAIN
After enduring seven weather-induced cancellations during the 2007 season, the Golden Gopher softball program hoped for better luck in ’08. So far, that has not been the case. Minnesota has lost seven games already (22 percent) of its original schedule to rain-outs and has battled inclement weather in nearly every tournament this season. The entire Buzz Classic in Statesboro, Georgia was canceled March 7-9, and the March 15-17 Louisville Tournament was significantly altered due to poor field conditions. In addition, the Gophers’ scheduled trips to Evansville (Indiana) and Kentucky March 18-19 were canceled.
A number of Big Ten teams had similar difficulties during the 2007 season, forcing conference officials to waive a rule which states that the Big Ten champion must complete a minimum of 15 its 20 scheduled conference games.
The Gophers finished the season with just 13 regular season conference games, their lowest total ever. Previously, the fewest number of conference games Minnesota played was 15 in 2002. Minnesota had just three games canceled in 2006.
LONG LAYOFF
It has been nearly two weeks since the Golden Gopher softball team took to the field after seeing three games canceled during their trip to Kentucky for the Louisville Tournament. Minnesota last played March 17 (a doubleheader vs. Louisville). The Gophers went 1-3 at the drastically rain-altered Louisville Tournament in Kentucky, losing to No. 9 Michigan (5-1) before beating Miami of Ohio 3-2. The Gophers were then swept in a make-up doubleheader against the Cardinals, falling 5-4 in eight innings and 9-3.
BIG TEN SEASON ARRIVES
Their early non-conference schedule now completed, Minnesota’s attention turns to conference play and the Big Ten. After opening this weekend with Michigan State and Northwestern, the Gophers are set to open their home slate at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium next Saturday (April 4) with Indiana.
The Gophers went 4-9 last year in conference play but had seven Big Ten games canceled due to weather and field conditions.
LIVE ON THE BTN
The Minnesota softball program will have four games broadcast on the Big Ten Network this season, according to an announcement by the network earlier this year. The Gophers' doubleheaders with Purdue (April 6 in Minneapolis) and Iowa (April 20 in Iowa City) will be featured on the BTN.
The Boilermaker - Gopher match-up will be broadcast on a same-day tape delay on the Big Ten Network Sunday, April 6. The doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis, and then be broadcast on television at 5 p.m. Central time.
On Friday April 20, Minnesota's doubleheader with the Iowa Hawkeyes will be shown live from Pearl Field in Iowa City. Those games will begin at 12 p.m.
LAST TIME VS. MICHIGAN STATE
The University of Minnesota softball team was swept in a doubleheader at Michigan State last April 29, falling 4-3 and 5-2 to the Spartans. The Gophers fell to 21-21 overall and 3-8 in the Big Ten, while MSU won its fourth consecutive game to improve to 30-24 and 6-8 in the conference.
In Game 1, the Golden Gophers overcame an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning only to have it disappear in the bottom of the seventh, when the Spartans took advantage of a pair of walks to score two runs to escape with the victory.
Michigan State handed Minnesota a 5-2 loss in the second game, using a three-run sixth inning to sweep the doubleheader.
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN
The Golden Gopher softball team fell to No. 10 Northwestern, 7-1, in a rain-shortened outing last April 22 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The two teams completed the fifth inning before heavy rain began falling, forcing a delay at 1:43 p.m. After waiting it out for two hours and 10 minutes, both teams' coaches agreed to make it official. The second game of the doubleheader was canceled and not rescheduled.
THE SERIES VS. NORTHWESTERN
Northwestern leads the all-time series against the Gophers by a slim 41-39 advantage after picking up a win last season and two in 2006. Overall, the Wildcats have won seven in a row in the series during their rise to national prominence.
FIELDING PROWESS
A hallmark of Gopher teams throughout the years has been excellent defense, a trait co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering have emphasized once again this year. In 2007, the Gophers committed 53 errors and posted a .962 fielding percentage as a team. This season, Minnesota has taken its reputation for defensive excellence to a whole new level. The Gophers are 11th in the nation in fielding percentage (.978) through their first 25 games, committing just 16 miscues in 712 possible chances.
For comparison, Gopher opponents have committed 28 errors in 726 chances (.961).
NATIONAL ATTENTION
Despite two less-than-stellar outings at the Louisville Tournament two weeks ago, junior hurler Briana Hassett has established herself as one of the conference’s top pitchers with a breakout performance thus far in 2008. The Eagan, Minn. native boasts an 11-3 record thus far with a 1.54 ERA. She has struck out a whopping 140 hitters in 95.2 innings pitched.
Hassett is beginning to climb the national pitching ranks as the Gophers sit on the verge of the Big Ten season. Below is Hassett’s national ranking in several key statistical categories:
| Category | Statistic | Nat'l Rank |
| ERA | 1.46 | 61st |
| Wins | 11 | 43rd |
| K/7 IP | 10.2 | 14th |
| H/7 IP | 3.8 | 23rd |
BEATING THE BIG TEN
In addition to her national acclaim, Hassett has been one of the best pitchers in the conference through the season’s first two months. Her 140 punch-outs ranks second among conference hurlers (behind only Northwestern’s Lauren Delaney and her 168) and opponents are hitting a paltry .155 against Hassett this season, also the second-best mark in the conference. The duo of Hassett and fellow junior Katie Dalen leads the Big Ten with 203 strikeouts.
STELLAR START
With a 17-8 record through the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Golden Gophers have assured themselves a winning non-conference mark for the 13th consectutive season. In fact, the Gophers’ .680 winning percentage ranks 89th nationally and their 17 wins is the most in a season’s first 25 games since 2003. The 2003 Golden Gophers, a team that finished 37-23-1 and made an NCAA Tournament appearance, went 17-7-1 in their first 25 contests to open the season.
OUT OF THIS LEAGUE
With an 20-13 record against non-conference opponents last season and 17-8 so far this season, Minnesota has now posted a .500 record or better against non-conference opponents in 13 straight seasons. The last time the Golden Gophers were under .500 against non-conference opponents was in 1995. Since then, Minnesota is 325-163-2 (.661) against teams from outside the Big Ten.
Players Mentioned
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