University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Drop Dome Finale in Extras
2/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Briana Hassett allowed just one run in eight innings and struck out 15 Drake hitters, but it wasn’t enough as Minnesota (4-7) lost by a 2-1 score to Drake (4-1) on Sunday afternoon in the finale of the Minnesota Softball Metrodome Classic. Drake, which tied Northern Iowa for the best record in the round robin tournament with a 4-1 weekend mark, did not record a hit in either of the innings it scored.
Hassett, who finished the weekend with 50 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings of work, was named to the All-Metrodome Classic team following conclusion of play along with teammate Malisa Barnes.
The Gophers got the scoring started with a two-out rally in the first inning. After Barnes doubled down the left field line, Minnesota drew consecutive walks off Drake pitcher Brynne Dordel. Dannie Skrove then worked a long at-bat before drawing another walk to score Barnes, giving the Gophers a 1-0 lead.
Drake tied the score without the benefit of the hit in the third inning. After Torey Craddock, Kelsey Kahler and Elena Leon walked to load the bases with one out, it looked as though Hassett might work out of the jam when she struck out Bridget Shields for the second out. But with No. 3 hitter Erin Mollohan at the plate, Hassett uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Craddock to score from third with the tying run.
After the Drake run, the game turned into a pitcher’s duel between Hassett and Dordel. After her three walks buoyed the Gophers’ first inning rally, the Drake sophomore did not issue another free pass for the balance of the game. Dordel finished the game with seven strikeouts and just four hits allowed.
With the game headed to extra frames after the Gophers were retired in order in the seventh inning, Drake leadoff hitter Elena Leon started the top of the eighth on second base per international rules. Leon advanced to third on a successful sacrifice by Shields. The Bulldogs then scored the go-ahead run when Mollohan laid down a successful suicide squeeze bunt. Hassett fielded the bunt and flipped to catcher Shannon Stemper, but the throw was not in time to get the speedy Leon.
Dordel was able to stifle the Gophers in the bottom half of the inning, striking out Barnes and Stemper after Sammie Howard was able to move Colleen Conway over to third base with a sacrifice to open the inning.
The Gophers are off until Friday, when the team travels to Corpus Christi, Texas, to participate in the Islander Invitational hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Minnesota gets underway with a 4:00 p.m. (CT) contest against the host Islanders. Action for the Gophers next weekend will also include a game against Loyola-Chicago, a pair of contests versus Pittsburgh and a game with Dayton.
-UM-
Minnesota Softball Metrodome Classic All-Tournament Team
Whitner Cloer (C, Arkansas)
Miranda Dixon (P, Arkansas)
Drynne Dordel (P, Drake)
Erin Mollohan (C, Drake)
Malisa Barnes (1B, Minnesota)
Briana Hassett (P, Minnesota)
Jen Larson (P/DP, Northern Iowa)
Morgan Paulson (1B, Northern Iowa)
Colleen Biebel (CF, Western Illinois)
Julie DePolo (3B, Western Illinois)
Mollie Kaebisch (3B, Wisconsin-Green Bay)
Kendra Woepse (LF, Wisconsin-Green Bay)
