University of Minnesota Athletics
Moulton Picks Up 13th Shutout as Gophers Split
4/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Minnesota 1, Wisconsin 0
The Minnesota softball team picked up its fifth-straight series opening win on Wednesday afternoon, picking up a 1-0 win over the Badgers in the first contest of a scheduled doubleheader.
In the circle, Sara Moulton threw her 13th shutout of the season, moving her within one of tying Briana Hassett (2009) and Vicki Swanson (1978) for the most shutouts in a season at Minnesota. Moulton struck out seven and walked three in seven innings of work while the Badgers spread just three hits over the game.
Behind Moulton's pitching, the Gophers found the scoreboard early in what would prove to be the game's only run. Four of Minnesota's first five batters reached to lead off the game starting with Dannie Skrove, who tallied a bunt single with one out to start the threat for Minnesota. Kari Dorle walked following Skrove's hit and both runners advanced a base on Alex Davis' singled to first base. With the bases loaded, freshman Sara DuPaul picked up a walk to bring home Skrove - bringing around the game's only run.
Cassandra Darrah took the loss for Wisconsin, throwing all seven innings and allowing one run on four hits. The Badgers pitcher struck out five but walked six to drop her record to 12-7 on the year.
Minnesota 3, Wisconsin 5
Despite jumping out to a three run lead early in the series finale, the Minnesota softball team couldn't hold on for its first conference sweep of the year on Wednesday evening - dropping a 5-3 contest to the Badgers.
Kari Dorle opened the series finale with her eighth home run of the season, sending a shot over the right field wall in the top of the first inning to put Minnesota up 2-0 after Malisa Barnes opened the day with a lead-off single.
Minnesota (26-19 overall, 4-6 Big Ten) would add another run in the second when Aubrey Davis would lead off the inning with a bunt single, take second on a wild pitch, advance to third on a sacrifice bunt by Allie Siu and finally come home safely on an RBI single by Barnes to left field. But Wisconsin would come back with four runs in the bottom of the second when Stephanie Peace scored on a error and Kendall Grimm sent a three-run home run out of the park two batters later for her third of the year.
The Badgers (23-18, 3-7) would add a fifth run in the fifth inning when Peace hit a two-out double to center, plating pinch runner Venessa Nunez to put Wisconsin up 5-3. Peace would unsuccessfully try for third on the play to end the inning.
Moulton would take the loss for Minnesota, throwing four innings of work and surrendering four runs (one earned) and striking out two. The loss drops the freshman's record to 23-12 on the year. Alissa Koch would come on in the third inning to close out the game for Minnesota, throwing five innings with one earned run against, three strikeouts and four walks. Amanda Najdak picked up the win for Wisconsin, coming on in a relief effort to improve her record to 3-2.
The Gophers continue Big Ten play this weekend with a road series at Purdue. Continue checking Gophersports.com for updates.
