University of Minnesota Athletics
Aggies Take Two From Gopher Softball
3/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Las Cruces, N.M. - Golden Gopher softball watched an early lead slip away in one game, and a close score widen in another as they dropped a doubleheader today (Mar. 16) to New Mexico State. The Aggies won the two games 10-9 and 8-0.
Game One
Minnesota scored first and held a 6-1 lead after two innings of play, but a four-run sixth brought New Mexico State back in the game, giving them their first led at 9-8. In the top of the seventh, the Gophers tied the game at 9-9 with one run, but the Aggies again came back, with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
The game-winning hit came off the bat of Angie Ortega in the form of a one-out single with runners on first and second.
After taking a 2-0 led in the first half-inning of the game, Minnesota scored four runs on three hits in the second to open up a 6-1 advantage. Malisa Barnes (Phoenix, Ariz.), Sammie Howard (Shoreview, Minn.) and Heidi Carls (Villard, Minn.) all had a RBI in the inning.
The Aggies scored two runs in each the third and fourth innings to get back within one at 6-5 before the Gophers added a pair in the fifth to take an 7-5 lead into the last two innings.
New Mexico State's four-run sixth came off of five hits, giving them a one-run lead at 9-8. An RBI single from Dannie Skrove (Zimmerman, Minn.) tied the game at 9-9 in the seventh, but the Aggies had one final run in the tank, to take the 10-9 win.
Barnes went a team best 3-for-4 at the plate while scoring two runs and knocking in another. She also reached base on a walk in the game. Whitney Erickson (San Ramon, Calif) Alex Davis (Harbor City, Calif.) and Skrove all had two hits as the Gophers pounded out 12 in the game. Erickson's line score for the game included a 2-for-2 day with a run scored and two RBI.
Lacey Middlebrooks (Wake Village, Texas) pitched the complete game and was rattled for a career high 17 hits and seven earned runs as she fell to 10-8 on the year.
Game Two
After controlling much of the first game before losing late, Minnesota dropped an 8-0 decision in six innings in the capper of the double header.
The game was close for much of the contest with New Mexico State leading just 1-0 for much of the game, and 2-0 heading into the final inning. However, in the sixth the Aggies plated six runs to stretch the lead to 8-0 and end the game.
Barnes again led the Gophers, finishing with two hits in three at-bats. Davis, Carls and Kari Dorle (South St. Paul, Minn.) each had hits as well.
Alissa Koch (Racine, Wis.) started for the Gophers, giving up all eight runs earned on 10 hits, suffering the loss. New Mexico State starter Sydney Williard allowed just five hits in the six-inning shutout.
The Aggies did their damage on the strength of two home runs in the sixth inning. After the first score crossed the plate off a single, the next at-bat brought home two more with a homer to left field. Then later in the inning after two runners had reached base, a three run bomb cleared them and ended the game.
The Gophers return to the field this weekend for five games at the Spring Hill Suites Invitational in Boise, Idaho. Minnesota's first game is against host Boise State on Friday, Mar. 19 at 4:00 p.m.
