University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
(21/22) Auburn
Auburn Tops Minnesota, Forces Final Game
5/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 18, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 21/22 Auburn won its third-straight elimination game at the 2014 NCAA Division I Softball Minneapolis Regional, defeating No. 14/16 Minnesota, 4-3, in eight innings at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
With the win, the Tigers set up another elimination game against the 16th-seeded Gophers this afternoon. The winner of that game earns a spot in next weekend's NCAA Super Regional in Eugene, Oregon, against the top-seeded Oregon Ducks.
Freshman pinch hitter Jenna Abbott provided the winning margin, as she drove a pitch over the fence in dead center for her fifth home run of the season.
Auburn had a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first, as freshman third baseman Kasey Cooper drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a single through the left side by junior right fielder Branndi Melero.
A fielder's choice then put runners on first and third with two outs, but Minnesota senior right-hander Sara Moulton escaped the jam by striking out sophomore first baseman Jade Rhodes.
The Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, as two runs crossed the plate. Cooper drew a two-out walk and scored from first on Melero's double to left. Melero, who advanced to third on the throw to the plate, then scored on a double to left center by junior centerfielder Morgan Estell.
Auburn stretched its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, as Cooper got things started with a one-out single through the middle. A two-out single to left by Estell moved Cooper to third base, and she scored on a bloop single along the right field line by freshman pinch hitter Anna Gibbs.
The Gophers rallied with two outs in the top of the sixth, tying the game after an illegal pitch was called on Auburn sophomore right-hander Lexi Davis.
Junior Tyler Walker singled with one out, and advanced to second on a ground ball, bringing junior third baseman Kaitlyn Richardson to the plate. Richardson hit what looked to be an inning-ending grounder to first, but Davis was called for an illegal pitch, which moved Walker to third and gave Richardson another opportunity.
The All-America standout for the Gophers didn't let the second chance go to waste, as she smashed her 20th double of the season down the right field line to score Walker and cut the lead to 3-1. Next up for the Gophers was freshman first baseman Sara Groenewegen, and she lined a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right center for her 11th home run of the season to knot the score at 3-3.
Groenewegen, the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year, took the circle in relief of senior Sara Moulton and suffered just her third loss of the season. Moulton allowed seven hits and three earned runs with seven strikeouts in five innings, and Groenewegen (14-3) also fanned seven in just 2.2 innings before Abbott's home run.
Davis recorded the win for the Tigers, improving to 21-11 by scattering seven hits and striking out four over 8.0 innings. Cooper, Melero, Estell and junior designated player McKenzie Kilpatrick each collected two hits for the Tigers.
