University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Falls to #17 Louisville in Extras
3/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. The University of Minnesota softball team played its third-straight extra-innings game on Saturday, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision in eight innings to 17th-ranked Louisville in the Courtyard by Marriott Cardinal Tournament.
The loss drops Minnesota’s record to 13-15 on the season, while the host Cardinals improved to 21-3.
For the second day in a row, the setback spoiled a great pitching performance by Minnesota senior Briana Hassett. The right-hander scattered three hits and surrendered just one earned run to the Cardinals, while striking out nine and walking two. Hassett, a native of Eagan, Minn., fell to 13-9 with the loss, but increased her Big Ten-leading strikeout total to 214 in 149 1/3 innings this season.
The Golden Gophers opened the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore designated player Natalie Neal came up with a two-out single to center, and advanced to second on a single to right by shortstop Brianna Sudenga. Freshman Lindsey Pockl then pinch-ran for Neal, and gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead on an RBI single up the middle by freshman centerfielder Dannie Skrove.
The lead wouldn’t last long, though, as the Cardinals took advantage of two walks and a wild pitch by Hassett, and then a Gophers fielding error to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of Louisville until Minnesota’s last chance in the bottom of the seventh, and the Golden Gophers came through with a run to send the game to extra innings. Skrove started the rally with a one-out single to right, and moved to second on a walk by senior Katie Dalen. Senior Bethany Wolvington then pinch-ran for Skrove, and freshman pitcher Alissa Koch reached on a Louisville fielding error with two outs to tie the game.
Louisville responded with a run in the top of the eighth, though, and then held Minnesota scoreless in the bottom of the inning, despite the Gophers having a runner reach third with one out.
"The kids battled hard, and when you go into the international tie-breaker, anything can happen," Minnesota co-head coach Lisa Bernstein said. "Last weekend (against Creighton), we won a game by scoring a run in the eighth, but this weekend it just hasn’t worked out for us."
The game was the first of two for the Golden Gophers on Saturday. Minnesota is scheduled to play Loyola-Chicago this evening.
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