Minnesota Sweeps Doubleheader

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Feb 6

1:30 PM

Softball

vs Miami (OH)

Feb 6

6:30 PM

Softball

at San Diego State

Feb 7

11:00 AM

Softball

vs Miami (OH)

The University of Minnesota softball team swept a doubleheader against St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth today in the Fall Invitational at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in Minneapolis.

The Golden Gophers started the day with a strong batting performance, collecting 11 hits as they rolled past the Huskies of St. Cloud 13-0.

Eight different Gophers recorded a hit with sophomore Malisa Barnes, senior Shannon Stemper and junior Heidi Carls leading the way with two hits apiece.

Minnesota started the scoring in the first inning when Colleen Conway reached on an error by Huskies third baseman Sara Sbragia, stole second base and reached third on an overthrow by St. Cloud catcher Alisha Arnold. Sophomore Samantha Howard capitalized wtih the runner in scoring position by hitting a sacrifice-fly ball to left field to bring in Conway.

The Gophers pulled away in the second inning when Minnesota batted through the lineup, scoring eight runs and bringing the lead to 9-0. Shortstop Briana Sudenga and outfielder Aubrey Davis began the inning with back-to-back walks before Conway bunted down the third-base line for a base hit.

Minnesota capitalized with the bases-loaded situation by bringing in all three runners through hits by Barnes, Carls and a double by outfielder Natalie Neal. The Gophers added four more runs in the third inning to bring the score to 13-0.

Senior pitcher Briana Hassett baffled the Husky hitters, striking out seven, while allowing only one hit and one walk.

The second game of the doubleheader saw Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth head into extra innings before the Gophers won on a squeeze play in the eighth inning.

With Conway at third and Barnes at first, Stemper laid down a bunt with the hustling Conway running home. Duluth pitcher Kristin Danielson fielded the bunt and flipped the ball home, but the Conway slid under Duluth catcher Ashley Johnson's tag to win the game for the Gophers.

It was a strong pitching effort by both teams with the teams ending the seventh inning tied 0-0. Alissa Koch led the Gophers with eight strong innings giving up one run on six hits and two walks, striking out eight batters along the way. Danielson led Duluth with a strong effort of her own by pitching 7 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out five.

Things changed in the eighth with both teams scoring in the inning. Duluth began the scoring when outfielder Casey Moore knocked in Sonja Muck with a double. Minnesota came back in the bottom of the inning when freshman Dannie Skrove scored on a throwing error by Duluth third baseman Sammie Gardner, which also saw Conway advance all the way to third. The next batter Howard walked before Stemper's squeeze play scored Conway to win the game.

Minnesota will face North Dakota State and Concordia University tomorrow at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium in the Fall Invitational. The Gophers first game starts at 10 a.m. against North Dakota State, which will be followed with the second game against Concordia starting at noon.

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Players Mentioned

Malisa Barnes

Heidi Carls

Colleen Conway

Aubrey Davis

Briana Hassett

Natalie Neal

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