University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Powers to Doubleheader Sweep at IUPUI
3/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. It was like Dj vu all over again for the University of Minnesota softball team Tuesday afternoon, as it followed an 11-1 victory against IUPUI in the first game of the afternoon with an 11-1 win over the Jaguars in the nightcap.
A total of eight Minnesota hitters recorded a hit in the second game, led by sophomore first baseman Malisa Barnes, who was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Sophomore shortstop Brianna Sudenga wrapped up an amazing day at the plate by going 2-for-2 with a double, four runs batted in, two runs scored, and a walk. In the two games versus the Jaguars, Sudenga was 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, seven runs batted in, and four runs scored, all while playing errorless defense at shortstop. Sophomore outfielder Natalie Neal had a solo home run for the Gophers, the second of her career, and also drew two walks at the plate.
Briana Hassett recorded the pitching victory, striking out seven batters in three innings to improve to 16-10 on the season. Hassett leads the Big Ten with her 16 wins, and is running away with the season strikeout crown, as she now has 239 K’s in just 164 1/3 innings pitched.
With the sweep, the Golden Gophers improved to 16-17 on the season, while IUPUI fell to 2-19 with the losses. Minnesota is scheduled to play its final non-conference games of the season on Thursday, when it faces Butler University in a 2 p.m. (CT) doubleheader in Indianapolis.
-UM-
