University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Fresno State
Gophers Knock Off Fresno State, 3-1
3/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
|
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 16 Minnesota softball team earned its seventh-consecutive win Saturday night, taking down Fresno State, 3-1. The win improved the Gophers' record at the Fresno State Classic to 3-0 and gave them a 21-4 mark on the season.
The triumph also vaulted the Minnesota's road record to 8-0 on the season.
In a defensive duel that starred Gopher pitcher Sara Groenewegen and Bulldog hurler Jill Compton, it was the Maroon and Gold that struck first in the third inning. With two outs, Kaitlyn Richardson knocked a 1-2 pitch past running Fresno State shortstop Whitney Smith up the middle to score Tyler Walker from first base.
After leaving the bases loaded in the third, the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the fourth when Bria Kennedy tripled down the right-field line to score pinch runner Brooke Coates from second.
It did not take long for the Gophers to respond after Groenewegen induced an inning-ending double play to prevent Kennedy from coming home. In the top of the fifth, Paige Palkovich singled, stole second and came home with the eventual game-winning run when Walker singled. Walker later cushioned Minnesota's advantage by crossing the plate on a single up the middle by Sam Macken.
Groenewegen completed the game in the circle by getting out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the frame and retiring six of the final seven Fresno State batters. She allowed six hits and struck out eight, upping her 2015 record to 13-2.
Walker finished the night a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. She is now hitting .667 with a .700 on-base percentage and six RBI thus far in three games at the Fresno State Classic. Her two runs in the game gave her the highest career run total in school history with 176.
The Gophers conclude their weekend in Fresno versus Montana and Cal Poly Sunday. Minnesota will then take on No. 11 California in a midweek game before opening Big Ten play at Illinois.
###
