University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Ends Season With Loss at Iowa
5/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Minnesota concluded its 2009 season with a 3-0 loss at Iowa Saturday afternoon, finishing with a record of 23-32 overall and 6-14 in the Big Ten.
The Golden Gophers were limited to a pair of singles by Iowa pitcher Brittany Weil, who struck out nine and walked just one to improve to 26-10 this season. Minnesota's Briana Hassett (22-25) took the loss after allowing five hits and three earned runs. Hassett struck out six Hawkeyes, finishing the season with a school-record total of 414 strikeouts. That figure is the fifth-highest in Big Ten softball history.
Iowa (42-14, 13-7) scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the third inning. Third baseman Katie Keim led off with a double to center, and moved to third on a bunt single by centerfielder Sam Heinzman. Following a stolen base by Heinzman, second baseman Chelsey Carmody singled to third base to load the bases. A wild pitch by Hassett allowed Keim to score, before left fielder Lindsey Digmann struck out. First baseman Katie Brown, who hit two solo home runs in the first game, then drove in a run on a fielder's choice, and advanced to second. Brown's advance drew a throw from the Gophers, which allowed a second Hawkeye run to score on the play.
"The kids played so hard today, and gave it everything they had, but we just came up short against a very good team," Minnesota co-head coach Lisa Bernstein said. "Briana pitched well, as she has all season for us, and we made some tremendous defensive plays behind her. We also hit the ball well, but Iowa made some great plays. It's disappointing to have this season come to an end, but we're proud of what we've accomplished this season, and we're excited about the program's future."
Today's doubleheader marked the final games for six Gopher seniors: shortstop Colleen Conway, utility player Katie Dalen, pitcher Briana Hassett, utility player Lauren Pockl, catcher Shannon Stemper, and outfielder Bethany Wolvington.
"This senior class has been amazing," Bernstein said. "They have done everything we've asked of them, they work hard, they excel in the classroom, and they represent themselves and the University of Minnesota very well off the field. They are a class act, and they are truly going to be missed."
Hassett ends her career as one of the finest pitchers to have ever donned a Minnesota uniform. She led NCAA Division I in strikeouts for a majority of the season, while also establishing new school records for complete games (39) and shutouts (14, tie) in a single season, and for complete games in a career (88). She had career totals of 962 strikeouts in 777.0 innings pitched, with 60 wins and 31 shutouts.
