University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Prepare for ACC/B1G Challenge
2/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
| Minnesota at B1G/ACC Challenge | |
| Game 1 | vs. Virginia Tech | Friday, Feb. 19 | 3:00 p.m. |
| Game 2 | vs. Virginia Tech | Saturday, Feb. 20 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Game 3 | vs. No. 13/15 Florida State | Saturday, Feb. 20 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Game 4 | vs. No. 13/15 Florida State | Sunday, Feb. 21 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Tournament Central | Information |
| Location | JoAnne Graf Field | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| Live Video | Florida State Game 1 | Game 2 |
| Live Stats | | | | |
| Game Day Live | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 |
| Social Media | @GopherSoftball | Facebook | Instagram |
Weekend Notes
The No. 20/18 University of Minnesota Gophers travel to Tallahassee, Fla. this weekend to compete in the ACC/B1G Challenge. They will play two games against Virginia Tech and two against No. 13/15 Florida State.
Last time out the Gophers went 3-2 at the Sportco Kickoff Challenge. They started the weekend with two gems on the mound from Kylie Stober and Sara Groenewegen topping Utah Valley 9-0 and No. 9/8 at the time Oklahoma. They followed it up with a win over Texas Tech before falling to Long Beach State and Washington.
Through the Order
Sam Macken hit lead off in all five games to start the season and leads the team with a .471 hitting average. She has a team leading three doubles to go along with a home run and five RBI on the early season.
Danielle Parlich hit second in all five games going. 278 with five hits. Groenewegen hit third and on her first at bat of the season launched a home run to center field. Taylor LeMay had a strong weekend in the cleanup spot going. 357 with a double and four RBI.
Paige Palkovich hit a .250 primarily hitting five. Maddie Houlihan had a nice collegiate debut mostly hitting six throughout the weekend. She hit a double and a home run in her first college game.
Rounding out the lineup was Sydney Fabian, Sydney Dwyer and Kayla Wenner with Brandi McGregor getting a start as well. Dwyer hit a walk-off home run to top Oklahoma and Wenner is currently second in batting average on the team with a .417 and two doubles. Fabian had three runs on the weekend and McGregor's lone hit was a beauty of a home run to center field. As a team the Gophers have hit .287 so far this year.
On the Mound
Groenewegen picked up three starts going 2-1 on the weekend with 31 strikeouts including 14 in the shutout win over No. 9/8 at the time Oklahoma. She has an ERA of 3.15 in the three game. Stober pitched a one hit five inning shutout against Utah Valley and is 1-1 after the weekend. Stober also has a 3.15 ERA. Nikki Anderson made one appearance on the mound and sits with a 2.10 ERA.
About Virginia Tech
After an opening day win over South Florida, Virginia Tech dropped their next four. Their final two games were against No. 2 Michigan and No. 1 Florida and the schedule stay tough for them this weekend playing Minnesota twice and Michigan twice. They are hitting .258 as a team with an ERA of 5.57. Three players are hitting .400 for them.
About Florida State
Florida State is 5-1 on the early season. Three of their games ended in run rule victories and their lone loss came to Illinois. They have yet to play a ranked opponent but that will change this weekend taking on Michigan and Minnesota. Alex Kossoff is hitting a .583 for them while Morgan Klaevemann had recorded a .556. As a team they are hitting. 349 and have a team ERA of 1.17 while their opponents have gone 8.03 on the mound.
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