University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Notre Dame
Minnesota Ousts Notre Dame, 9-1
2/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 26, 2012
Behind a five-run first inning, the University of Minnesota softball team ousted Notre Dame 9-1 in the final day of the Carolina Classic. Accompanying the 10-hit performance by the Gopher (10-3) offense was a 10-strikeout effort by sophomore pitcher Sara Moulton.
Moulton allowed only four hits to the Fighting Irish (3-5) while walking a pair of batters. With the win Moulton improves her pitching record to 8-2 while also recording her third game this season with 10 or more strikeouts.
Offensively, freshman Madie Eckstrom and sophomore Bree Blanchette were unstoppable at the plate as they went a combined 6-for-7. Eckstrom tallied three singles with the same number of runs batted in. Blanchette also garnered three hits along with a RBI and two stolen bases.
The Golden Gophers began the game hot as all nine Maroon and Gold batters would record a plate appearance in the top of the first. Freshmen Tyler Walker and Erica Meyer started the game off with a pair of singles while fellow newcomer Kaitlyn Richardson scored Walker on a double to the right center wall. After a Kari Dorle and Alex Davis walk, Meyer would be pushed across the plate.
Minnesota would grab another run on an Eckstrom single through the right side of the infield. Hannah Granger would step up to the plate and be forced out shortstop to first, but Dorle reached home on the play. The final Gopher run would be hit in by Blanchette on a single to right field.
The Gophers would surrender their lone run of the game in the bottom of the second when the Irish recorded two of their four hits. Out of the seven innings pitched by Moulton, she went three up, three down in five of them.
Notre Dame held the Minnesota offense quiet until the top of the sixth when the Maroon and Gold tallied three unearned runs, making the score 8-1.
Minnesota added their final run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Richardson, which scored Blanchette from third.
The Golden Gophers close out the Carolina Classic with a 3-1 record, and they return to action next weekend in Athens, Georgia for a five game stint.
