University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Rutgers
Gophers Win With Big First Inning
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 21/21 University of Minnesota Gophers scored five first run innings on their way to a 7-1 victory over the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights.
Paige Palkovich had a three shot home run in the first. Maddie Houlihan added two RBI in the game and Sam Macken hit three singles to highlight the Gophers at the plate. Sara Groenewegen won her 20th game of the season in the circle going 5.2 innings. She only allowed one hits, no runs and struck out 11 batters.
"We played good ball today. We are going to work on good defense, continuing to hit the ball and running the bases well to score more runs," Macken said.
On a beautiful 60 degrees and sunny day out at the RU Softball Complex Macken jumped on the game's first pitch driving it right up the middle for a single.
Danielle Parlich reached on a fielders choice as Macken was thrown out on the next play and Taylor LeMay was hit by a pitch. Groenewegen helped her own cause with a RBI double to left center to bring Parlich around.
LeMay was brought home when Houlihan ripped a single through the right side on the first pitch she saw keeping the Gophers aggressive style going at the plate.
Palkovich came up next and sailed a moonshot over the center field wall for a three shot home run to cap off the Gophers four hit, five run inning.
"We put together good at bats and anytime we can string them together like that is a positive," Palkovich said. "We are always happy when we can get it in the first inning but just being able to continue to chip away a little bit every inning following is something we are going to work on in the days to come."
The five runs was more than enough as Groenewegen was locked in on the mound. She retired the first six batters with four strikeouts. She allowed a single in the third but picked right back up with her dominant performance for the remainder of her time in the game.
Sydney Dwyer led off the fourth inning with her sixth home run of the season launching one over the left field wall on the first pitch she was thrown. Jessie Isham came in to pinch hit and knocked in a single followed up by another Macken single but Rutgers got out without allowing any more damage.
Macken's three hit day has her up to a .379 batting average. "Just game by game I have been focusing on each at bat and I think that has helped me a lot," Macken said.
Parlich made it home for the second time in the game the top of the sixth inning. She doubled to left center and later advanced on a wild pitch. Houlihan brought her home on a RBI fielder's choice.
Groenewegen had her day come to close after firing in two more strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kylie Stober came in to finish the game. She ended the sixth on a strikeout and finished the day giving up just one run in 1.1 innings of work with two Ks.
"Anytime you come out and win the first game of the series is a good start to the weekend," Palkovich said. " I think we did a lot that we are really happy about today. It definitely set the tone for the rest of the weekend."
The Gophers improve to 28-12 overall with a 9-2 B1G record. They play Rutgers again tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch set for 12 p.m.
