University of Minnesota Athletics
North Dakota Visits Gophers for Double Dip
4/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2014
 | No. 12/13 Minnesota vs. North Dakota |
| Date/Time | Wednesday, April 23, 2014 • 4:00 p.m. CT (DH) |
| Location | Jane Sage Cowles Stadium • Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Last Meeting | Minnesota 10, North Dakota 3 (April 29, 1978) |
| Gopher Softball Live | Game 1 | Game 2 |
| Live Stream | Gopher All-Access |
The No. 12/13 Minnesota softball team will play a non-conference doubleheader against North Dakota Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The games will kick off a seven-game homestand for the Gophers and will be the first home non-conference contests the team will play all season.
About Minnesota
Minnesota is off to its best start in program history at 33-8 despite entering Wednesday having lost its last two games-its first losing streak of the season. The Gophers, 11-5 in the Big Ten, are 22-3 in non-conference play to this point in the season. The Gophers have outscored their opponents 230-91 and have hit 49 home runs, helping the team to a .485 slugging percentage, the best in school history.
About North Dakota
North Dakota, which suffered a sweep Tuesday on the road against Nebraska Omaha to extend its losing steak to 10 games, is 4-33 on the season including a 2-6 mark in Big Sky conference games. UND was swept by Wisconsin in a pair of run-rule games April 9 in Madison in its only other competition against a Big Ten opponent. Kayli VanDomelen has recorded three wins in the circle and the team has three player hitting better than .300, led by Emily Bell's .341.
About North Dakota
Minnesota and North Dakota are playing one another for the first time since April 29, 1978 Wednesday. The Gophers are 2-0 all-time against UND.
Non-conference numbers
In non-conference play, the Gophers have been led by Kaitlyn Richardson's .446 average and 27 RBI and Sara Moulton's 15-2 record that has been aided by a 1.17 ERA against non-Big Ten foes. Tyler Walker and Sydney Fabian are also hitting above .300 in non-league games at .380 and .304, respectively.
Strong Starts
The Gophers' 33-8 record has been sparked partially by strong starts to games. Minnesota has outscored its opponents 62-9 in the first two innings this season and is 19-2 on when leading after the second inning. In the second inning, the Gophers have surrendered just two runs all season.
On Deck
Next up, the Gophers will host Big Ten foe Penn State Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at 6 p.m. Friday, 3:05 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. Saturday's game will air live on the Big Ten Network.
###
