University of Minnesota Athletics
Neal Sparks Comeback as Gophers Split With Purdue
4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Minnesota women's softball team split a Big Ten doubleheader with Purdue on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to beat the Boilermakers 3-2 in the series opener before falling 2-3 in the day's finale.
Minnesota 3, Purdue 2
Natalie Neal's first home run of the season started a two-run seventh inning for the Minnesota softball team as the Gophers came from behind to win 3-2 over Purdue in the first game of doubleheader on Saturday.
After allowing the Boilermakers to jump out to an early lead with a pair of unearned runs in the third inning, Minnesota had its work cut out for itself in the second half of the ball game. But the Gophers were up to the task and clawed their way into the lead with three unanswered runs.
Minnesota cut the lead to one in the top of the fifth inning when Aubrey Davis drew a one-out walk and then reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Bree Blanchette. The senior leftfielder came around to score on Malisa Barnes' 12th double of the season.
The scoreboard would remain locked at 1-2 until Minnesota's final three outs when Neal stepped into the batter's box with one out and took the first pitch she saw over the left field fence. In similar fashion to the fifth inning, Davis would follow by reaching on an infield error and would once again be advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Blanchette. Barnes would then step in and send a single to center that brought Davis home from second for the eventual game winner.
Barnes would pace Minnesota on Saturday -- hitting .667 (4-for-6) with three doubles and two walks. Minnesota's senior first baseman has been a force at the plate over the last week, hitting .500 (7-for-14) over the last four games.
Sara Moulton took the win for Minnesota, throwing her 28th complete game of the season and improving her record to 24-12. The freshman threw all seven innings, striking out four and walking two. Neither of the Boilermakers' runs were charged to Moulton, who gave up six hits in the victory. Suzie Rzegocki took the loss for Purdue, going the distance with seven strikeouts and four walks. The Boilermaker pitcher gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits.
Minnesota 2, Purdue 3
For the second time on Saturday, the Gophers climbed out of a two run hole after the Boilermakers put up a pair of runs in the first inning. But in the top of the third, Minnesota would break onto the scoreboard with two runs of its own.
Bree Blanchette led off the inning when the freshman reached on an infield error and then came around to score on a double by Malisa Barnes. Kelsey Klucas would come on to run for Barnes at second and advance to third on a groundout by Dannie Skrove before coming home on another grounder by Kari Dorle to tie the game at 2-2.
But Purdue would break the tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ashley Courtney doubled to left center and brought in Aimee Gingerich, who had come on to pinch run after Shelby Krammer led off the inning with a walk. The RBI double for Courtney would prove to be the game winner as Minnesota was unable to answer in its final trip to the plate.
Alissa Koch would take the loss for Minnesota, throwing six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks. The junior would give up three runs (two earned) on six hits to bring her record to 3-8. Suzie Rzegocki picked up the win for Purdue, throwing all seven innings and giving up two runs on six hits. The Boilermakers pitcher would walk three while striking out just one batter in the contest.
