University of Minnesota Athletics
Hassett and Howard Help Gophers Snap Skid
3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. Minnesota received another stellar pitching performance from senior right-hander Briana Hassett, and freshman second baseman Sammie Howard went 2-for-4 at the plate, to help the Golden Gopher softball team snap a three-game slide with a 5-0 victory against Loyola-Chicago on Sunday afternoon at the Courtyard by Marriott Cardinal Tournament.
Hassett worked seven innings for her tenth complete-game shutout of the season, improving her record to 14-10 by allowing just three hits and striking out 10 Ramblers batters. For the season, Hassett has a Big Ten-leading total of 226 strikeouts in just 158 1/3 innings pitched.
Howard, who missed most of the 2008 season with an injury, had her second career multiple-hit game. She finished with a single, a double, a run scored, and stole a base to help the Gophers rebound from a 6-2 loss versus Loyola on Saturday night.
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, senior catcher Shannon Stemper drew an RBI walk to push across the only run the Gophers needed thanks to Hassett’s pitching gem.
But Minnesota added a pair of runs in the fourth to push the lead to 3-0. Howard reached on a one-out bunt single, stole second, and later scored on a double to right field by senior right fielder Katie Dalen. The Gophers’ second run of the inning came on a fielding error by Loyola’s shortstop.
The Golden Gophers closed out the scoring with an unearned run in the sixth, and then added an insurance run in the seventh, when Howard’s double to center scored freshman centerfielder Dannie Skrove with the game’s final run.
Minnesota improved to 14-16 with the win, while the Ramblers fell to 9-7 on the season.
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