University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Loses 7-0 at #8 Michigan
4/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The University of Minnesota softball team lost by a 7-0 score at eighth-ranked Michigan Sunday afternoon, falling to 21-24 overall and 4-6 in the Big Ten.
The Golden Gophers were limited to three singles in the game by Michigan's sophomore right-hander Jordan Taylor, who improved to 11-4 by striking out 12 Minnesota batters in the win. Senior shortstop Colleen Conway was 1-for-3, redshirt freshman second baseman Sammie Howard was 1-for-2 with a walk, and sophomore first baseman Malisa Barnes went 1-for-3 and recorded 10 putouts for Minnesota.
Senior righty Briana Hassett (20-17) started the game for Minnesota, going 3 2/3 innings and allowing eight hits and four earned runs. But Hassett, who entered the week leading NCAA Division I softball in strikeouts, fanned just two Wolverines before giving way to freshman right-hander Alissa Koch. Koch pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned).
Michigan was paced by three hits each from second baseman Steph Kirkpatrick and right fielder Angela Findlay, while catcher Roya St. Clair hit a solo home run in four at bats.
The game ended a stretch of six consecutive games against teams ranked in the Top 25 for the Gophers. Minnesota was 1-5 in those games, but lost a pair of 1-0 games to #17 Ohio State, handed #6 Northwestern its first loss in Big Ten play with an 8-3 win on Wednesday, and took Michigan to extra innings on Saturday.
The Golden Gophers now have a bit of a break before they return to action by playing host to Penn State next Saturday and Sunday (April 18-19). Saturday's first pitch at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m. (CT).
-UM-
