University of Minnesota Athletics
Softball Falls 1-0 to Connecticut in Eight
2/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Fort Myers, Fla. - The Golden Gophers fell 1-0 in eight innings to Connecticut today (Feb. 28), in their finale at the Florida Gulf Coast Spring Break Invite.
Using the International tiebreaker rule, where the offense has a runner automatically placed on second to start the inning, Connecticut used a leadoff walk, a runner-advancing ground out and run-scoring single for the win. With runners on second and third, a single to right field brought home the game-winning run for the 1-0 eight-inning decision.
The Huskies collected just three hits in the game, but got the right one at the right time. In three innings, Connecticut went down in order, and just once prior to eighth inning did a runner advance past second base.
The loss is the first for the Gophers in eight innings, after winning their first two such contests, earlier this season at the Metrodome Classic.
Minnesota starter Lacey Middlebrooks (Wake Village, Texas) pitched the complete game (7.1 innings) allowing just the three hits and one unearned run. She set a career high, and tied teammate Alissa Koch's season high, with 11 strikeouts in the game.
As a team, the Gophers notched just two hits in the game, coming off the bats of Abby Rehberger (Brainerd, Minn.) and Dannie Skrove (Zimmerman, Minn.). Aubrey Davis (Kennedale, Texas), Sammie Howard (Shoreview, Minn.) and Skrove all reached base with walks on the day.
The Gophers missed on their bid to return to the .500 mark and fall to 7-9 on the season after going 3-2 on the weekend at the Florida Gulf Coast Spring Break Invitational. They will quickly return to action at the Georgia Bulldog Inviational, starting with a 2:00 p.m. tilt at Kennesaw State on Thursday, Mar. 4.
