University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers and Badgers Split Pitchers' Duels
4/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
A pair of pitchers’ duels resulted in a doubleheader split between Minnesota and Wisconsin on Wednesday in Madison, Wis.
Minnesota took the opener 4-0 as senior Briana Hassett fired a one-hitter and finished with nine strikeouts in her school-record tying 14th shutout of the season. Wisconsin claimed the second game 2-1 on a dramatic winning play in the bottom of the seventh and a strong effort from Leah Vanevenhoven, who allowed just three hits and struck out eight.
Minnesota is now 23-26 and 6-8 in the Big Ten, while Wisconsin moved to 13-33 overall and 2-10 in the Big Ten.
The opener marked Hassett’s fourth one-hit complete game of the season and her shutout matched the single-season school record total held by Vicki Swanson, set during the 1978 season. Minnesota took advantage of its three hits in the game, as all contributed to the team’s four runs, which all came after two outs. Vanevenhoven finished with 12 strikeouts in the first game.
After two scoreless innings, Minnesota took the lead with two runs in the third as Malisa Barnes blooped a two-out single just over second base to drive in the first run and Shannon Stemper reached on an error to plate the second run.
The inning started with a walk to Dannie Skrove, who was erased on a fielder’s choice bunt by Tina Watts. Colleen Conway followed with a perfect bunt single, putting runners on first and second. After Sammie Howard struck out for the second out, Barnes' hit fell just wide of the outstretched glove of diving Wisconsin shortstop Katie Soderberg to allow Watts to score the game’s first run. Conway then scored on an error and Barnes advanced to third, but Stemper was tagged out in a rundown after attempting to steal before Barnes could cross the plate.
Stemper provided two more runs with two outs in the fifth on a line drive two-run single to centerfield after an intentional walk to Barnes loaded the bases. Similar to the third frame, the inning started with a walk to Skrove. Watts again bunted hard to the pitcher, but Skrove beat the throw to second for a fielder’s choice, putting runners at first and second with none out. Vanevenhoven struck out Conway and Howard, however, Skrove and Watts executed a double steal on the strikeout pitch to Howard. With first base open, the Badgers elected to walk Barnes, but Stemper drilled the first pitch she saw to centerfield to spoil the strategy and put Minnesota ahead 4-0.
Wisconsin, meanwhile, never threatened against Hassett, who retired the last seven batters of the game and allowed just one runner to reach second base. She walked three and struck out five straight batters from the first through third innings.
The second game ended in dramatic fashion as Wisconsin had three infield singles in the bottom of the seventh. The winning run scored when Wisconsin’s Karla Powell blooped a hit between first and second base. With both the Gophers’ first and second basemen charging the ball, Minnesota second baseman Howard scooped up the ball and dove for first base, but Powell beat her to the bag with a headfirst slide.
The Badgers’ winning rally started with a one-out infield single by Jennifer Krueger and a bunt single by Theresa Boruta. After an out moved the runners to second and third, Powell delivered her clutch hit on a 2-2 pitch.
Howard started the second game strong for Minnesota with her first career home run in the top of the first inning, turning on a high inside pitch and dropping it over the rightfield fence. The Badgers loaded the bases with three walks in the bottom of the first, but Hassett struck out the side to end the threat.
Wisconsin tied the game in the second when Valyncia Raphael hit a two-out triple and scored on an error off a ball hit by Krueger. The Badgers had the better of the opportunities throughout the game, including runners on second and third with one out in the fourth when Hassett caught Krueger looking on a 3-2 pitch at the knees. Wisconsin had the leadoff runner on base in the sixth before a popped up bunt resulted in a double play.
Minnesota had baserunners in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but none were able to reach second base and Vanevenhoven kept the Gopher hitters off-balance throughout the game. Hassett struck out seven and raised her season total to 371 strikeouts, which ranks second in the NCAA Division I.
The Gophers return home to face Michigan State for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. each day.
