University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
CSU Bakersfield
Gophers Down Huskies, Roadrunners
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The 15th-ranked Minnesota softball team opened its 42nd season by defeating No. 11/13 Washington, 8-0, and CSU Bakersfield, 9-1, at the Sportco Kick Off Classic at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev. Both games were five-inning, run-rule decisions.
The victory against the Huskies was Minnesota's 22nd season-opening win and was the Maroon and Gold's first triumph in five all-time meetings with Washington.
The first game of the day saw the Gophers stake themselves to an early lead they would not relinquish.
Tyler Walker, Sam Macken and Kaitlyn Richardson all reached base to lead off the first inning. Sara Groenewegen then drew a walk to score Minnesota's first run of the season, eventually setting the stage for Danielle Parlich to record a two-run single that extended the lead to 3-0.
In the third inning, Minnesota capitalized on a Richardson double and steal of third base when Hannah Granger blooped a single into the outfield grass to make it 4-0. A Taylor LeMay double and a Parlich single made it 5-0 after three.
Parlich capped the scoring in the fifth when she scored on a Washington throwing error following a two-run triple.
Groenewegen registered a four-hit shutout in the circle with nine strikeouts. The eighth batter she fanned on the afternoon marked her 200th-career strikeout. The shutout was her sixth as a Gopher.
Bakersfield held Minnesota off the scoreboard for the first two innings before loading the bases and taking a 1-0 lead in the third. The Gophers responded in the bottom of the bottom of the frame, however, when Richardson knocked in two runs with a single.
Minnesota pulled away in the fourth inning with seven runs. Parlich and Walker both doubled in the stanza to drive in runs.
Kylie Stober went the distance to earn the win in her first collegiate start, allowing five hits on 79 pitches. She racked up eight strikeouts.
The Maroon and Gold will play UC Davis at 1:15 p.m. CT and Louisville at 8 p.m. CT Saturday. The team's weekend will conclude with an 11 a.m. CT contest against host UNLV.
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