University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Tulsa
Gophers Fall 6-4 at Tulsa
3/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Taylor LeMay, Danielle Parlich and Sam Macken contributed to seven of the Gophers eight hits as they fell 6-4 at Tulsa University.
Macken was walked to start the game. After Tulsa forced two outs to follow, LeMay recorded her first big hit of the game with a single up the middle to bring Macken home.
The Gophers took that momentum onto the defensive side retiring the first three batters. The first out of the game for the field was a spectacular diving catch by Paige Palkovich. Maddie Houlihan sailed a solo shot home run over the left filed wall in the top of the second to put the Gophers up 2-0 over Tulsa.
The Golden Hurricane answered back with a home run of their own the bottom of the second with a runner on to tie the game after two.
After a scoreless third the Maroon and Gold took the lead back the top of the fourth. With two outs Fabian got to third with a deep shot to right field. She was brought home by a Macken single.
The Gophers grew the lead with another run in the fifth inning. Parlich led off with a single down the right field line. LeMay drilled her second RBI of the game bringing her home on another single.
Minnesota looked to stay in control retiring the Tulsa side in order the bottom of the inning but things went downhill in the bottom of the sixth.
Tulsa put their first two batters on with a walk and an error. A triple would bring both of them home to tie the game.
After an intentional walk and a steal put runners on second and third with no outs the Gophers settled back in.
Sara Groenewegen caught a batter swinging for her seventh strikeout of the game. She then forced a fly out to right but the ball was hit deep enough for a sacrifice fly giving the Golden Hurricane the lead. A single right after gave them another run and a 6-4 lead going into the seventh.
Parlich singled to start off the inning. LeMay came up to bat and singled as well but was able to advance on the throw as Parlich slid safely into third. Tulsa's field then recorded their biggest play of the game with a 5-2-4 double play leaving just LeMay on base. They forced a fly out for out number three to seal the victory.
Groenewegen went the complete distance in the circle. She is now 11-4 on the season.
The No. 22 Gophers drop to 16-8 on the season and have another tough challenge ahead facing No. 13/14 Oklahoma tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. This will be the eighth time the Maroon and Gold will play a top-25 team.
