University of Minnesota Athletics
Barnes, Hassett Lead Gophers in Desert
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Malisa Barnes connected with her second home run of the weekend, and Briana Hassett tossed a pair of complete game shutouts, as Minnesota (12-13) swept St. Joseph’s by scores of 8-0 and 5-0 Saturday in Tucson, Ariz. Hassett has now recorded 180 strikeouts and eight shutouts through the first month of the 2009 season.
The Gophers’ 8-0 win in the first contest of the day also marked the 1,000th game for co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering at Minnesota. The pair, coaching on the campus of their alma mater, the University of Arizona, this weekend, have been at Minnesota since the 1992 season and have shared head coaching duties since Standering was elevated to the position after the 1996 campaign.
Hassett pitched a four-hit shutout and five Hawks errors helped Minnesota take the opener. St. Joseph's had the bases loaded with one in the first after singles by Laura Cardone and Bernadette Moran and a walk to Brooke Darreff, but Hassett got out of the jam with a strikeout and fly ball to strand all three runners.
The Golden Gophers then scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Katie Dalen singled, and a pair of errors by shortstop Moran loaded the bases. Aubrey Davis then drew a walk to plate the Gophers’ first run, and a wild pitch scored another. A throwing error by third baseman Monica Aguilar let two more cross the plate, staking Minnesota to a quick 4-0 advantage.
Minnesota added three mores runs in the third, keyed by a two-run single by Colleen Conway. The Gophers added a final run in the top of the fifth.
In the nightcap, Hassett struck out 11 to pace the Gophers, and a pair of home runs provided some cushion. Sophomore shortstop Brianna Sudegna belted her first career homer, helping Minnesota complete the sweep and even its weekend record.
The Gophers opened the scoring in the first with an infield grounder by Heidi Carls that drove in Sammie Howard, who had drawn a walk and advanced on singles by Barnes and Shannon Stemper.
After Howard singled in the third, Barnes connected on a first-pitch offering for her second homer of the weekend to give Minnesota a 3-0 advantage. Sudenga's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth plated the final runs of the game.
The Gophers will round out their weekend at the Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson with a contest Sunday morning against 2008 Missouri Valley Conference champion Creighton at 10:30 a.m. (CT).
-UM-
The Gophers’ 8-0 win in the first contest of the day also marked the 1,000th game for co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering at Minnesota. The pair, coaching on the campus of their alma mater, the University of Arizona, this weekend, have been at Minnesota since the 1992 season and have shared head coaching duties since Standering was elevated to the position after the 1996 campaign.
Hassett pitched a four-hit shutout and five Hawks errors helped Minnesota take the opener. St. Joseph's had the bases loaded with one in the first after singles by Laura Cardone and Bernadette Moran and a walk to Brooke Darreff, but Hassett got out of the jam with a strikeout and fly ball to strand all three runners.
The Golden Gophers then scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Katie Dalen singled, and a pair of errors by shortstop Moran loaded the bases. Aubrey Davis then drew a walk to plate the Gophers’ first run, and a wild pitch scored another. A throwing error by third baseman Monica Aguilar let two more cross the plate, staking Minnesota to a quick 4-0 advantage.
Minnesota added three mores runs in the third, keyed by a two-run single by Colleen Conway. The Gophers added a final run in the top of the fifth.
In the nightcap, Hassett struck out 11 to pace the Gophers, and a pair of home runs provided some cushion. Sophomore shortstop Brianna Sudegna belted her first career homer, helping Minnesota complete the sweep and even its weekend record.
The Gophers opened the scoring in the first with an infield grounder by Heidi Carls that drove in Sammie Howard, who had drawn a walk and advanced on singles by Barnes and Shannon Stemper.
After Howard singled in the third, Barnes connected on a first-pitch offering for her second homer of the weekend to give Minnesota a 3-0 advantage. Sudenga's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth plated the final runs of the game.
The Gophers will round out their weekend at the Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson with a contest Sunday morning against 2008 Missouri Valley Conference champion Creighton at 10:30 a.m. (CT).
-UM-
Players Mentioned
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