University of Minnesota Athletics
Softball Tops Boise State, 3-2
3/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Boise, Idaho - The Minnesota softball team got back in the win column today (Mar. 19), holding on for a 3-2 decision over Boise State, as BSU hosts the Spring Hill Suites Invitational.
The Gophers jumped out early, scoring runs in the first and second innings to go up 2-0. Minnesota starter Lacey Middlebrooks (Wake Village, Texas) was dominant, holding Boise State off the board while the her teammates added another for insurance in the fourth, going up 3-0.
Then in the seventh, the Gophers withstood a rally as they Broncos were able to bring two runs across the plate to draw within one at 3-2, but no closer.
Middlebrooks was strong all game, throwing all 7.0 innings while allowing just a single hit, and one earned run in the shutout. She struck out six and walked two.
Alex Davis (Harbor City, Calif.) led at the plate with two hits in four at-bats, while Malisa Barnes (Phoenix, Ariz.) went 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI.
The Gophers scored right away in the first, as their first three batters all reached base. Barnes (Phoenix, Ariz.) led off with a single and Abby Rehberger (Brainerd, Minn.) was hit by a pitch to put two on. Up next Davis put the ball in play and reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Barnes to come all the way around for the score.
In the second, the Gophers again had their lead-off batter on as Dannie Skrove joined Rehberger in the hit-by-pitch club. Two batters later, Skorve was on a third after a sac bunt and a ground out, and in the next at bat, came home for the Gophers second run on a passes ball. Despite no hits in the inning, the Gophers stretched their lead to 2-0.
In the fourth, Minnesota ha d one hit, but their run came home after a bases loaded walk to Barnes moved Aubrey Davis (Kennedale, Texas) across the plate.
Wisconsin scored both their runs in the seventh without registering a hit. With two outs in the seventh, a Gopher error led to each run coming home. After they scored, however, Middlebrooks put the clamps on and quickly recorded the final out to end the game.
The Gophers improve to 11-19, while Boise State falls to 4-15. Tomorrow, the Gophers play twice at the Spring Hill Suites Invitational, first against Portland State at 10:30 a.m., and second against Weber State at 3:00 p.m.
