University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Rutgers
Gophers Secure Fourth B1G Series Win
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 21/21 University of Minnesota Gophers secured their fourth Big Ten Series with an 8-0 six inning victory over the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights this afternoon.
Just like the day before the bat of Paige Palkovich put the Gophers on the board in a big way to start the game. Danielle Parlich was on after a single while Sara Groenewegen and Maddie Houlihan were each walked to load the bases with two outs for Palkovich who sent a blast of a double down the left field line to score them all.
Nikki Anderson got the nod in the circle and did not disappoint on her way to a complete game shutout. She did not allow a hit in her first 3.2 innings of work. The most impressive inning of work came in the second when Anderson forced three outs in just three pitches with Sydney Fabian hauling in back-to-back-to-back catches in right field.
The Maroon and Gold got their bats going again in the fourth inning. Fabian was on after a fielder's choice as Sam Macken stepped into the box with two outs. Macken has gone after the first pitch in the majority of her at bats this weekend and did so again launching a home run to score two over the right field wall for her ninth of the season.
Parlich and Taylor LeMay each followed with singles and went into scoring position after a wild pitch but Rutgers was able to get out without allowing any more damage.
Minnesota kept rolling in the fifth. Palkovich was walked, Kayla Wenner singled and Sydney Dwyer was walked to load the bases with one out. Fabian ripped a single right back up the middle to score two runs. She finished 2-3 with two RBI.
Groenewegen came up to the plate with two outs in the sixth inning and sailed a homer well over the left field wall for her seventh this year. The home run also put the Gophers at eight and just three outs away from a run rule victory.
Macken fielded two clean plays and Anderson added a strikeout to finish the game. Anderson only allowed four hits while striking out five and improves to 6-4 on the year.
The Gophers finished with 11 hits in the game. Parlich, Groenewegen and Fabian all had two. The weekend series will wrap up tomorrow with first pitch set for 11 a.m.
To check out a few highlights from today and to stay up to date on all the latest Gopher softball news follow along on Twitter @GopherSoftball. Also go like our Facebook page-Minnesota Softball and our Instagram @GopherSoftball.
