University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
No. 13/15 Florida State
Gophers Battle in 2-0 Loss to FSU
2/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
It was another great battle between the No. 20/18 University of Minnesota Gophers and No. 13/15 Florida State to end the first ever ACC/B1G Challenge. FSU scored two runs in the top of the seventh to win 2-0 on the afternoon.
The two teams battled through six scoreless innings of softball. Sara Groenewegen got the nod on the mound for Minnesota. She only gave up four hits, striking out five batters. She pitched 18 innings only allowing five hits on the whole weekend.
Minnesota out hit FSU in the game with six started by a Danielle Parlich single in the first inning. The next big hit for Minnesota came in the fourth inning when Groenewegen got a hold of a ball and doubled to shallow right field to lead things off. FSU got out without allowing a run.
Both fields played great all game. In the top of the fifth Sydney Dwyer made an over the shoulder catch and tossed it over to second for a double play to get out of the inning. The Maroon and Gold looked to carry that momentum into the fifth with their closest chance to score all game.
Dwyer singled to shortstop with one out on the board and Dani Wagner came in to pinch run for her. Wagner got a great jump to steal second the next pitch. Sydney Fabian took a 1-0 pitch and drove the ball up the middle of the field on the next at bat. Wagner turned the corner on third taking a chance at coming home but was tagged out as she came sliding in on a close play. Fabian had two hits in the game.
Taylor LeMay made a great fielding play the top of the sixth. As an FSU player took off to steal second, LeMay showed off the cannon gunning her down as Dwyer laid the tag.
After a walk and a single, FSU came up with a two-RBI double for the games only runs in the top of the seventh. The Gophers could not answer in the bottom of the inning. Groenewegen moves to 4-2 on the season with an ERA of 2.14 and already has recorded 52 strikeouts.
Macken is leading the team with a .433 batting average, 13 hits and six doubles for 8 RBI after the first two weekends of play. Seniors Fabian and Kayla Wenner follow with a .375 and .360 respectively. Fellow senior outfielder Paige Palkovich is hitting a .286 and has seven RBI.
LeMay is fourth in batting average with a .320 and freshman Maddie Houlihan is off to a nice start hitting a .316 while getting walked six times already this season.
The Gophers head to the Diamond Devils Tournament for five more games next weekend with games against Mount St. Mary's, Arizona State, Saint Francis (PA) and two against Houston.
