University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Split Fall Doubleheader
10/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The University of Minnesota softball team took the field against North Dakota State University Saturday afternoon on a brisk fall day winning their first game 4-1 before falling 12-5 in their second game.
First Game: Minnesota 4, North Dakota State 1
Sara Groenewegen pitched a solid game to start the day going the distance while striking out 13 NDSU batters. She only gave up three hits and no earned runs.
The Gophers got on the board first in the bottom of the third. Kayla Wenner was walked and later reached third on an NDSU error. Danielle Parlich singled to bring Wenner home later in the inning.
The Maroon and Gold added another run in the fifth when Sam Macken ripped a single to right field. She later stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. Macken came home with two outs on the board to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead.
The Bison scored in the top of the sixth to pull within one run but Minnesota wasted no time in answering. Sydney Dwyer singled through the right side to start the at bat. Later Paige Palkovich smashed a home run to left field to move the lead to 4-1.
Groenewegen stayed strong in the seventh striking out two batters and getting the last one to pop up to seal the victory.
The Gophers finished with five hits in the game with Macken, Parlich, Groenewegen, Dwyer and Wenner all connecting.
Second Game: North Dakota State 12, Minnesota 5
Macken and Wenner both recorded two hits in the Gophers loss with Parlich and freshman Maddie Houlihan also contributing. Macken's two hits were a home run and a double with Houlihan and Wenner also recording doubles in the game.
The first inning got off to an exciting start with both teams scoring two runs. Macken's double to right center started the inning off for Minnesota's at bat. Parlich followed with a single to left. Groenewegen got an RBI bringing Macken home and Parlich scored off a LeMay RBI later in the inning.
NDSU put up six runs the next two innings to go up 8-2. The Gophers cut into the lead in the bottom of the third when Wenner singled to shortstop showing off her speed to beat out the throw. The next at bat Macken stayed hot with a home run to left field.
The Bison offense kept it going with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth. Wenner led off with a double in the bottom of the fifth for the Gophers. She advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later Groenewegen came up to the plate and after an absolute battle of an at bat was able to hit a sacrifice fly to bring Wenner home for the final Minnesota run of the game.
NDSU added one more run in the top of the sixth to win 12-5.
The Gophers move to 3-1 on the fall season and will play against the University of Minnesota-Duluth to wrap up fall ball next Friday night with the first game of the doubleheader set to start at 6 p.m.
