University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Top Idaho State 7-4 in Tourney Finale
3/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Minnesota softball team closed out the Wildcat Invitational with a 7-4 win over Idaho State on Sunday morning in Tucson, Ariz. The Gophers went 4-1 in the tournament, also picking up wins over Portland State, UC Riverside and Utah State.
Senior Malisa Barnes accounted for three of Minnesota's seven runs in the win, going 3-for-4 and raising her team leading batting average to .466 this season. Barnes scored a pair of runs on her own while freshman Kristin Coonrod scored also after pinch running for Barnes. Junior Dannie Skrove accounted for two runs, going 1-for-2 with an additional walk. Senior Aubrey Davis and sophomore Alex Davis each tallied the remaining two runs for Minnesota.
After two scoreless innings to open the day, Minnesota broke out in the bottom of the third with three runs. Skrove lead off with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Barnes before Alex Davis' double brought both runners around to score. The third baseman advanced to third on a single by Kari Dorle and then scored on a fielding error to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead. Idaho State would answer back in the top of the fourth with two runs, but the Gophers would repeat its three-run performance in the bottom of the inning. Skrove, Barnes and Aubrey Davis opened the inning with three-straight singles and Skrove scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex Davis. Barnes and Aubrey Davis would later score on a triple to right field by Jessie Hathaway to give Minnesota all the run support it would need.
Idaho State would get two back in the top of the fifth, but that would be as close as they would get. The Gophers (11-8 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) would add one last run in the bottom of the sixth when Barnes led off with a double and Coonrod came on to run for her after Barnes advanced to third on an Aubrey Davis single. Coonrod would score on a fielder's choice by Alex Davis.
Freshman Sara Moulton picked up the win for Minnesota, striking out seven in six innings of work. Moulton gave up four runs on seven hits without allowing a walk. Alissa Koch came in to throw the final inning, striking out two of the three batters she faced.
Minnesota continues the 2011 season next weekend at the Mizuno Classic.
