University of Minnesota Athletics
Softball Season Wrap-Up
6/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Season in the Books
The 2010 campaign closed with a series sweep at the hands of Illinois. After the big, emotional 10-inning 10-9 win over Wisconsin the week before in the home finale, Minnesota could not keep the momentum going against No. 18 ranked Illinois. The Gophers lost 3-8 in the first game and fell 0-10 in five innings in the second game to close out the season. Minnesota earned their two Big Ten wins over Penn State and Wisconsin, first beating the Nittany Lions 3-2 to open Big Ten play, before the win over Wisconsin to snap a 15-game winless streak and close the home season.
The Records
Minnesota wraps up the 2010 campaign with a 16-37 overall mark and a 2-17 record in Big Ten play. Gopher softball went 1-8 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium this season, 3-16 on the road and 12-13 in neutral site games.
All Big-Ten
Freshman Alex Davis was the Gophers lone representative on the All-Big Ten team this season, earning third team honors as a utility player. Davis started games at three different positions this season, primarily at third base and shortstop, with one start behind the plate mixed in. She led the Gophers with 10 home runs on the season, and a .315 batting average in Big Ten play. She was the only player to bat over .300 in league games, and her home run mark was the Gophers' best since 2003. Natalie Neal was the Gophers representative for the Big Ten Sportsmanship award, her first career honor.
Team Awards
Alex Davis was named Most Valuable Player while Heidi Carls was named Most Valued Player and Defensive Player of the Year. Malisa Barnes was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Kelsey Klucas was named Most Improved. Davis and Lacey Middlebrooks shared Rookie of the Year honors while Whitney Erickson won the Hard Hat Award. Carls, Davis, Erickson, Kim Hanlon, Sammie Howard, Chonquita Jones, Klucas, Alissa Koch, Middlebrooks, Mallory Mitchell, Natalie Neal, Allie Siu, Dannie Skrove, Abby Rehberger and Tina Watts were all named Maroon and Gold Champions.
All-Academic
The Big Ten announced their Spring All-Academic teams at the conclusion of the spring semester. Seven Gophers are named to the team, with three honored for the second straight year. Mallory Mitchell, Natalie Neal and Tina Watts were each named All-Academic for the second time, while Whitney Erickson, Sammie Howard, Alissa Koch and Dannie Skrove each earned the laurel in their first year of eligibility. Furthermore, Erickson, was one of 15 athletes from across the Big Ten to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA.
New Leadership
At the conclusion of the 2010 season, Minnesota Director of Athletics Joel Maturi decided not to renew the contracts of co-head coaches Lisa Bernstein and Julie Standering, and that new leadership would be sought for the program. Assistant coach Piper Marten's contract was also not renewed. Together, Bernstein and Standering won nearly 600 games, the 1999 Big Ten Tournament and advanced to six NCAA Tournaments. They each began their tenure with Golden Gopher softball in 1992, the Bernstein as head coach, and Standering as an assistant.
Farewell Seniors
The Gophers say goodbye to five seniors this season, led by fifth-year player Heidi Carls. The longest tenured member of the senior class, Carls is joined by Tina Watts, Chonquita Jones, Kim Hanlon and Abby Rehberger. Watts spent three seasons in a Gopher uniform, while Jones has been in the maroon and gold for the past two seasons. Hanlon and Rehberger each joined the team in their senior season, after Hanlon wrapped up four years on the Gopher's women's hockey team and Rehberger played her first three years at North Dakota.
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