University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Illinois
Richardson's Grand Slam Highlights 9-3 Win at Illinois
4/14/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2013
CHAMPAIGN, ILL. - Sophomore Kaitlyn Richardson hit a grand slam and sophomore Tyler Walker hit her third home run of the weekend, as Minnesota completed a sweep of Illinois with a 9-3 win on Sunday afternoon.
Richardson's opposite field grand slam to left center, her eighth home run of the season, broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning. The Gophers were the home team in all three games this weekend in a series that had originally been scheduled to be played in Minneapolis, but was moved to Champaign due to inclement weather in the Twin Cities.
Illinois closed to within 5-3 by scoring twice in the top of the fifth, but Walker's three-run blast over the fence in right center with two outs in the bottom of the fifth extended Minnesota's lead back to 8-3. Walker's home run was her eighth of the season, and she went 6-for-7 with three home runs, a triple, six runs scored and five runs batted in during the three-game sweep.
Junior right-hander Sara Moulton worked her 19th complete game of the season to improve to 22-8. Moulton allowed just four hits and three earned runs, while striking out three and issuing one walk. She recorded two wins and a save this weekend.
Richardson and Walker had similar numbers in the victory. Richardson was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and four RBI, while Walker was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Minnesota (26-13, 9-3 Big Ten) now travels to Lincoln, Neb., for a rescheduled doubleheader against Nebraska on Tuesday. The Gophers have a half-game lead on the Huskers for second place in the Big Ten standings. First pitch on Tuesday is set for 4:00 p.m. CT.
