University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
James Madison
Minnesota Splits on Day 2 of Carolina Classic
2/25/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2012
The University of Minnesota softball team garnered a split on Day 2 of the Carolina Classic as they fell 1-0 to No. 24 North Carolina and thumpes James Madison, 9-1. With the split, the Golden Gophers record sits at 9-3 overall.
In the opening game against UNC, the Maroon and Gold were unable to push run across the plate despite having seven runners left on base in the game. Minnesota turned it around in the second game against JMU as they produced nine runs on nine hits for their fifth eight-run mercy rule victory.
Game 1: No. 24 North Carolina 1, Minnesota 0
Final Box
The story of the game was leaving runners on base as the Gophers stranded seven base runners in the 1-0 loss to No. 24-ranked North Carolina. Minnesota received a five-hit outing from pitcher Sara Moulton, but the Maroon and Gold couldn't push across a run to equal the Tar Heels (10-1).
Minnesota looked as if they were going to snag an early lead in the bottom of the second when they loaded up the bases with one out. Blanchette was the first Gopher to get a shot at supplying some runs, but the sophomore outfielder would reach on a fielder's choice as Josie Solie was forced out at home. Tyler Walker was next up, and she went down on strikes to strand three runners.
The Tar Heels would claim the lead in the ensuing half inning. Moulton would walk her second faced batter of the inning, who would get hit around to score the long run of the game on a single and then a fielder's choice.
Moulton pitched all seven innings in the contest and allowed five hits and three walks while striking out eight UNC batters.
The Gophers had a chance in the bottom of the fourth to tally some runs, but again, they couldn't produce with runners on base.
Freshmen Madie Eckstrom and Erika Smyth each tallied a one-out single to get the bats rolling. Alex Pafko would come in to run for Eckstrom, who was on second. Blanchette came up with a big single to right field with hopes of scoring Pafko, but the senior was thrown out at the plate for the second out. The next Maroon and Gold batter would go down on strikes to end the inning.
The bottom of Minnesota's batting order exploded as they recorded four of the Gophers' five hits. Smyth led the way by going 2-for-3 while Eckstrom and Blanchette each went 1-for-2.
Minnesota would close out the game by only generating one base runner in the final three innings.
Game 2: Minnesota 9, James Madison 1 (6 innings
Final Box
Minnesota came back with a vengeance in the second game of the night against James Madison, winning 9-1 in six innings. The Gophers' bats got hot and they tallied nine hits in the contest while also capitalizing on JMU (2-3) pitching mistakes.
Walker led off the game for the Gophers with a solo shot, which was her second leadoff home run of the season and her fourth total.
The Maroon and Gold put another on the board in the top of the second when junior Alex Davis walked to begin the inning. Davis would be pushed around to third on a fielding error and a Smyth single. The first baseman would be hit in on a Walker single to right center, making the score 2-0.
Walker had a great game against the Dukes as she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and one home run.
JMU would put up a fight as they tallied one run in the third off a RBI double to right centerfield.
Senior Alissa Koch got the start in the circle for Minnesota. Koch pitched all six innings and allowed only five hits while striking out five. The victory moves the hurler to 2-1 on the season.
The lone run for the Dukes wasn't enough as Minnesota terrorized James Madison in the fourth with six runs. The Gophers would tally the runs on only three hits, thanks to JMU's pitchers walking five batters in the inning.
Walker garnered the first RBI with a single to right center while junior Kari Dorle follow with a two-run single down the right field line. Eckstrom capped off the inning with a single up the middle to score one more Gopher. The other two runs for the Maroon and Gold would come in as unearned runs, due to a wild pitch and a passed ball.
The Gophers would force the eight-run mercy rule in the top of the sixth on a Kaitlyn Richardson solo home run to centerfield. The bomb was Richardson's fourth of the season, which ties Walker for the team lead.
Richardson ended the game hitting 2-for-3 with one RBI and scoring a pair of run.
Minnesota closes out the Carolina Classic tomorrow morning as they face Notre Dame at 8 a.m. CT.
