University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Mercer
Minnesota Garners Two Wins to Open Bulldog Invitational
3/2/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 2, 2012
The University of Minnesota softball team opened the 4th Annual Bulldog Invitational with a pair of victories to improve to 12-3 on the season. Both games were tight until the end, but the Gophers utilized the long ball to pull away from both Cleveland State and Mercer.
Game 1: Minnesota 9, Cleveland State 5
Final Box
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, the Gophers (11-3) put together a six-run third inning to catapult themselves to a convincing 9-5 victory over Cleveland State (1-9). Eight Golden Gophers would tally a hit in the contest, including four that had a multi-hit game.
As the visiting team, Minnesota started the game by loading the bases, but the Maroon and Gold failed to produce any runs. CSU would take advantage of the Gopher miscue as they put three runs on the board, thanks to a Dana Toman home run.
Toman would tally two home runs in the contest with the other being a solo shot in the fifth.
It was in the third that the Gophers got on the board when junior Kari Dorle doubled in Kaitlyn Richardson. Dorle wouldn't stand on second for long as fellow junior Alex Davis hit a towering two-run home run over the left field wall to even up the score. Three walked Minnesota batters and a Hannah Granger single would generate another run for the Gophers. Minnesota would put two more on the board behind a Tyler Walker sacrifice fly and an Erica Meyer single to right, giving the Gophers a 6-3 advantage after two and a half inning.
The Vikings would inch closer in the bottom of the third behind an Afton Allred double to make the score 6-4.
The Maroon and Gold got the bases loaded again in the fourth but were unsuccessful to stretch its lead. The Gophers loaded the bases in three separate innings during the contest and totaled 11 runners left on base.
In the fifth, Richardson would launch a solo shot to center for her fifth home run of the season. Dorle would follow with a double and advance to third during Davis' at bat on a wild pitch. Davis would then record a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored the junior catcher.
Richardson finished the contest going 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and scoring two runs. Davis ended going 1-for-3 in the contest with a two-run homer and pushed in three RBI.
Senior Alissa Koch was given the start and threw four complete innings allowing four runs, six hits and fanning seven batters. Freshman Kelsey Kimminau came in relief for the Gophers.
Cleveland State would score a run of their own in the fifth on Toman's second home run of the game, making the score 8-5.
Walker would earn the Gophers' final score on a solo four-bagger to center field. The home run is her fifth of the season, which ties Ricahrdson for the team lead.
After Kimminau allowed the first two Viking batters to reach base, Sara Moulton would come in to close out the game. Moulton was credited with her first save of the season while Koch garnered the win to improve to 3-1.
Game 2: Minnesota 3, Mercer 1
Final Box
In game two, Minnesota (12-3) got involved in a pitcher's battle with Mercer (7-9) with the two combining for nine hits in the game. The Gophers would pair together two runs in the fourth to give them all they needed to pull out the low scoring contest.
Moulton guided the Maroon and Gold with holding the Bears to one run and striking out eight batters. The sophomore improved to 9-2 on the season with victory.
The Gophers unknotted the score in the fourth when Meyer and Richardson each singled to lead off the inning. On Richardson's single to right center, Meyer showed her speed by making it first to third on the hit.
Dorle followed with a squeeze bunt, which scored Meyer and advance Richardson to third. Richardson would then be hit in by Davis on a groundout.
Mercer tried to make a comeback in the sixth when they had the bases loaded with no outs. Moulton would record the first out with a strikeout, but the Bears next hitter would single to left field to make the score 2-1. With the bases still loaded and only one out, Moulton would force a lineout to Smyth, who made a diving catch at second. The freshman would hop to her knees and double up the Bears by forcing a Mercer runner out at second for not tagging on the play.
The Maroon and Gold reclaimed the surrendered run in the following half of the inning when Richardson lined a solo home run to center field. The homer was her second of the day and sixth on the season.
Minnesota closed out the day going 2-0. They play again tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. against Ohio and then at noon versus No. 7 Georgia.
