University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Drop Twinbill to Open Metrodome Classic
2/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Gopher softball team (3-4) dropped both games of a doubleheader against Western Illinois on Thursday at the Metrodome. Both Minnesota and Western Illinois sported pink jerseys to show support for breast cancer research, as they kicked off the annual Minnesota Softball Metrodome Classic.
The Westerwinds (4-2) took advantage of five Minnesota errors in the first game to score five unearned runs on the way to a 6-3 win. Western Illinois shortstop Lauren Furgala went 3-for-5 with a three-run triple to lead her team to an 11-3 win in the second game.
In the first game, Minnesota catcher Shannon Stemper hit the team’s first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth inning, and left fielder Heidi Carls stroked a pair of doubles to lead the Gophers offensively. Colleen Conway also had two hits and scored a run. Pitcher Briana Hassett (3-1) fanned nine WIU hitters and allowed just one earned run, but suffered the complete-game loss.
Western Illinois pitcher Kamrun Ferguson (2-1) earned the complete-game win, recording three strikeouts and allowing just three unearned runs. After pushing across single runs in the first and third innings, the Westerwinds staked themselves to a 6-0 lead with a four-run top of the fourth inning. Minnesota committed three errors in the inning, and WIU took advantage, scoring all four runs with two outs.
Stemper’s long home run to left cut the WIU lead in half in the bottom half of the sixth inning, and Carls followed with her second double of the game, but the two-out rally was snuffed out when Western Illinois first baseman Jamie Gross snagged a line drive off the bat of shortstop Brianna Sudenga.
In the nightcap, the Westerwinds jumped on freshman starter Alissa Koch with a two-run home run by Erin Schlotfeldt in the first inning. The drive off the bat of Schlotfeldt, which bounced off the top of the plastic fencing in right center field, proved to be an omen for the evening when it caromed beyond the wall to give WIU a 2-0 lead. The Westerwinds also got a solid pitching performance in the nightcap, as Lori Pankratz went the distance while striking out seven.
Minnesota center fielder Dannie Skrove, who finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, helped to get Minnesota on the board in the fifth inning. The Elk River graduate singled through the left side with one out and eventually came around to score on a Malisa Barnes single. The Gophers got doubles from Conway and Barnes in the final inning to tack on a pair of unearned runs.
The Metrodome Classic resumes at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow with a contest between Drake and Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Gophers play just once tomorrow, a 4:00 p.m. contest against Northern Iowa. Before the game tomorrow, Minnesota softball will induct longtime umpire Les Novak and former Golden Gopher great Jordanne Nygren as its 49th and 50th members of its Hall of Fame.
-UM-
The Westerwinds (4-2) took advantage of five Minnesota errors in the first game to score five unearned runs on the way to a 6-3 win. Western Illinois shortstop Lauren Furgala went 3-for-5 with a three-run triple to lead her team to an 11-3 win in the second game.
In the first game, Minnesota catcher Shannon Stemper hit the team’s first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth inning, and left fielder Heidi Carls stroked a pair of doubles to lead the Gophers offensively. Colleen Conway also had two hits and scored a run. Pitcher Briana Hassett (3-1) fanned nine WIU hitters and allowed just one earned run, but suffered the complete-game loss.
Western Illinois pitcher Kamrun Ferguson (2-1) earned the complete-game win, recording three strikeouts and allowing just three unearned runs. After pushing across single runs in the first and third innings, the Westerwinds staked themselves to a 6-0 lead with a four-run top of the fourth inning. Minnesota committed three errors in the inning, and WIU took advantage, scoring all four runs with two outs.
Stemper’s long home run to left cut the WIU lead in half in the bottom half of the sixth inning, and Carls followed with her second double of the game, but the two-out rally was snuffed out when Western Illinois first baseman Jamie Gross snagged a line drive off the bat of shortstop Brianna Sudenga.
In the nightcap, the Westerwinds jumped on freshman starter Alissa Koch with a two-run home run by Erin Schlotfeldt in the first inning. The drive off the bat of Schlotfeldt, which bounced off the top of the plastic fencing in right center field, proved to be an omen for the evening when it caromed beyond the wall to give WIU a 2-0 lead. The Westerwinds also got a solid pitching performance in the nightcap, as Lori Pankratz went the distance while striking out seven.
Minnesota center fielder Dannie Skrove, who finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, helped to get Minnesota on the board in the fifth inning. The Elk River graduate singled through the left side with one out and eventually came around to score on a Malisa Barnes single. The Gophers got doubles from Conway and Barnes in the final inning to tack on a pair of unearned runs.
The Metrodome Classic resumes at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow with a contest between Drake and Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Gophers play just once tomorrow, a 4:00 p.m. contest against Northern Iowa. Before the game tomorrow, Minnesota softball will induct longtime umpire Les Novak and former Golden Gopher great Jordanne Nygren as its 49th and 50th members of its Hall of Fame.
-UM-
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballHighlights: Gophers 6, Central Michigan 1
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