University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
(3) Michigan
Gophers Drop Series Finale
4/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 20, 2014
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The No. 12/13 Minnesota softball team fell 7-2 to No. 3 Michigan in the teams' weekend series rubber match at the Wilpon Complex's Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Mich. Sunday afternoon. The Wolverines used a six-run fifth inning to help take the series win and drop the Gophers to 33-8 with an 11-5 mark in the Big Ten.
The Gophers lost back-to-back games for the first time this season and starting pitcher Sara Moulton was handed her sixth loss of the season, bringing her record to 20-6.
Kaitlyn Richardson walked in the first inning to reach base for the 22nd-consecutive game, but the Gophers could not move her off first. Michigan loaded the bases in the home half of the inning, but Moulton sent the game to the second inning scoreless by fanning Taylor Hasselbach.
After Michigan starter Megan Betsa retired the Gophers in order in the second, the Wolverines got a runner in scoring position with one out, but Moulton picked up a groundout and a strikeout before Taylor LeMay caught pinch runner Brandi Virgil stealing third to end the inning.
Michigan broke the scoreless deadlock in the third with a two-out, solo home run by Sierra Romero. Caitlin Blanchard then doubled and Sierra Lawrence blooped what looked to be a run-scoring hit to center field, but Sydney Fabian ran in to make a terrific diving catch to end the inning.
Following a scoreless fourth, freshman Sam Macken broke up a no-hitter and a string of five-straight Betsa strikeouts by belting her second-career home run into the right-field bleachers to knot the score. The Wolverines answered right back in the bottom of the inning, however, as Blanchard knocked a bases-clearing double to make it 4-1. Lauren Sweet later tacked on three more Wolverine runs with her fifth home run of the season.
Erica Meyer capped the game's scoring in the sixth with a booming solo homer to right field.
Minnesota will resume play Wednesday at 4 p.m. by beginning a seven-game homestand with a doubleheader against North Dakota at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Gophers will then play their final Big Ten home series against Penn State beginning Friday.
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