University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Split in Day One Action
3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Minnesota 5, Northern Colorado 0
After suffering a disappointing loss to the Bears in the Hotel Encanto Tournament, the Gophers looked to redeem themselves in their second meeting of the year against Northern Colorado. Sophomore catcher Kari Dorle led the team offensively, going 3-3 while Malisa Barnes, Alex Davis, Jessie Hathaway, and Bree Blanchette all went 2-4, helping the Gophers clinch their 12th win of the season.
The Gophers didn't waste any time and posted two runs in the top of the first inning. Barnes singled to left field and later scored when a pinch hit by Natalie Neal brought the first run across. Alex Davis also singled and scored on a pinch hit by Dannie Skrove for the ninth time this season.
In the third inning, the Gophers posted two more runs extending their lead to four. Dorle singled after a lead off double from Alex Davis, placing runners on the corners. Kelsey Klucas entered the game as a pinch runner for Dorle and advanced to second. Then, with her biggest hit of the day, Hathaway singled scoring both Davis and Klucas.
No more runs were scored until the seventh inning when the Gophers tacked on one more. Dorle picked up her third hit of the day with a double to left center and later crossed the plate on an Allie Siu single.
The Bears threatened various times throughout the game but failed to plate a run and left four runners stranded. Sara Moulton pitched the three-hit shut out and struck out seven. She picked up her eleventh win of the season and improves to 11-5.
Minnesota 0, Oklahoma 9
Oklahoma State led the whole way in game two. The Cowgirls jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning accented by a Chelsea Garcia three-run home run. Moving into the third inning OSU posted two more runs and would cap off the scoring by adding three more in the seventh.
The Gophers failed to waken the bats as they left six runners on base and only posted four hits, while the Cowgirls plated nine runs on twelve hits.
Koch was the losing pitcher in the contest falling to a 1-4 record. She threw all seven innings, gave up nine runs on twelve hits, and struck out four.
The Gophers will play two games tomorrow in day two of the Mizuno Classic.
They kick off the day versus UNI at 11 and will either play at 4:30 or 7:00 that night.
