University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Drop Pair of Games on Opening Day
2/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Minnesota softball team opened the 2011 season on Saturday at the Hotel Encanto Invitational in Las Cruces, N. M., falling to New Mexico State 15-7 in the opener before losing a 12-8 heartbreaker to Colorado State.
In Head Coach Jessica Allister's debut, the New Mexico State Aggies pulled ahead early, posting ten unanswered runs through three innings. But in the fourth inning the Gophers would snap their offensive slump and post four runs of their own. In the fifth Kari Dorle would hit her first home run of the year adding two more runs and bringing the score to 11-6 Aggies. The sudden offensive surge provided to be too little too late as the Gophers would ultimately give up four more runs in the sixth and fall 15-7. Alissa Koch pitched all six innings for Minnesota and picked up the loss after allowing eleven earned runs and striking out five.
In the nightcap, the Gophers handed over the ball to freshman Sara Moulton, making her college debut. Moulton pitched the whole game giving up eleven earned runs on ten hits and striking out eight. Malisa Barnes and Kari Dorle would lead the team offensively with two hits each including Dorle's second home run of the day. The Gophers would take an early lead off the Dorle home run, but it wouldn't last long as Colorado State added a home run of its own the next inning. In the fourth inning, Dannie Skrove would come around to score giving the Gophers a 2-1 advantage. In reply, Colorado State came back with another home run tying the game at two. Colorado State broke the game open in the sixth inning by scoring five runs, giving them a 7-2 lead.
Heading into the seventh inning, the Gophers trailed by six runs. Barnes singled with one out to start the Gophers' come back. Jessie Hathaway would find a way on base and Alex Davis crushed a double up the middle scoring both Barnes and Hathaway. Allister then called upon senior Mallory Mitchell to pinch hit for Dannie Skrove with two outs. Mitchell doubled into center bringing around Davis, making the score 7-5 Colorado. Dorle stepped to the plate and would single to bring around Skrove, who had reentered the game, to score. Allie Siu then reached on an error before Aubrey Davis would hit a sharp grounder to third, scoring two runs on a throwing error to give the Gophers an 8-7 lead.
But Colorado State wasn't finished, tying the game and then loading the bases only for Emily Pohl to hit a grand slam and give the home team a 12-8 win.
