University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Visit Lincoln for Three-Game Set
3/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
| No. 12 Minnesota at Nebraska | |
| Dates and Times | Friday, March 27, 2015 • 5:30 p.m. CT Saturday, March 28, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. CT Sunday, March 29, 2015 • 12:00 p.m. CT |
| Location | Bowlin Stadium • Lincoln, Neb. |
| Live Blogs | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Notes/Previews | Minnesota | Nebraska |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Nebraska |
| Social Media | @GopherSoftball | Facebook | Instagram |
LINCOLN, Neb. - The No. 12 Minnesota softball team resumes Big Ten play this weekend with a three-game series against Nebraska at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. The Gophers and Cornhuskers will play each other Friday at 5:30 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
LAST TIME OUT
Last weekend, Minnesota swept its first Big Ten series of the season at Illinois, winning three games by a combined 28-5 score. The Gophers improved to 27-4 on the season.
AGAINST THE CORNHUSKERS
All-time, Minnesota is 11-19 against Nebraska. Under Jessica Allister, the Gophers have an 5-4 edge after taking two of three games in Lincoln last season.
IN THE CORNHUSKER STATE
Minnesota has a 17-15 all-time record in the state of Nebraska, including 4-4 in Jessica Allister's four-plus seasons as head coach.
ON A ROLL
Minnesota enters its series against Nebraska on a program-record 13-game win streak. The Gophers' last loss came against UAB back on March 1. Dating back to last season, Minnesota has won eight-straight games against Big Ten opponents and five-consecutive games in regular-season conference play. Only this weekend's opponent, Nebraska, has a longer regular-season league win streak at eight.
ROAD WARRIORS
Having yet to play a home game, the Gophers have played 12 road games and 19 neutral-site games. In true road games, Minnesota is 12-0 and has outscored its opponents 104-29. The team's 12 road wins are the most in the country. These marks will be put to the test this weekend against a Nebraska team that hasn't lost a Big Ten game at home since the Gophers earned a 13-4 win in Lincoln on March 23, 2014.
GETTING ON BASE AND SCORING
Minnesota's offense has aided greatly in its 27-4 start. The Gophers enter the week a .350 average, tied for the ninth-best in NCAA Division I (along with Nebraska), and a .443 on-base percentage (15th). The team has averaged 7.52 runs per game (14th).
TRENDING UP
After hitting .257 through her first 22 games, Tyler Walker has raised her average 86 points since March 8. She hit five home runs in four games last week.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
The Gophers made program history March 13 when they posted a 20-3 win over South Dakota State. The 20 runs were the most the team has scored in a single game in the NCAA era (dating back to 1982). Minnesota exploded for 16 runs in the first inning as its first 13 hitters reached base.
RUN RULE WINS
The Gophers have piled up 10 run-rule wins in their first 31 games. Last year, 11 of the Gophers' 44 wins were by run-rule decision.
STRIKING THEM OUT
Sara Groenewegen, who led the nation with 11.6 strikeouts per seven innings last season, has kept fanning hitters in 2015. The reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year has 183 strikeouts in 118 innings (11 strikeouts per seven innings) so far. She has had eight double-digit strikeout showings and has matched her career-high with 14 strikeouts two times. She entered the week ranked second in the nation in strikeouts.
HAVE A WEEK
Through seven weeks of play, three Gophers have combined for six Big Ten weekly accolades. Sara Groenewegen was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week three times, while Danielle Parlich was the conference's top rookie two times. Erica Meyer became Minnesota's first Big Ten Player of the Week since 2013 the week of Feb. 23.
IN THE RANKINGS
After starting the season with its highest preseason ranking in program history at No. 15 (in both polls), Minnesota is up to No. 12 after starting 27-4. The Gophers reached as high as No. 11 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll, a program-best.
