University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Rutgers
Home Runs Lift Gophers to Sweep
4/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 21/21 University of Minnesota Gophers launched four more home runs this afternoon topping the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights 11-1 in five innings to complete the weekend sweep.
"Anytime you get a Big ten sweep, especially on the road, it is a good weekend," head coach Jessica Allister said. "I think we got all three aspects of the game this weekend. We had solid performances in the circle, played great defense and came up with some big hits." Sara Groenewegen and Sam Macken each lifted home runs while Danielle Parlich and Taylor Chell each hit their first of the season. Chell's also happened to be her first collegiate home run. The Gophers had eight total home runs on the weekend and hit .384 as a team.
"Hitting is one of the hardest things to do in sports," Allister said. "It is a skill based on failure and you are going to fail more than you succeed. I was impressed with the way our team went through the process this weekend and just focused on getting good swings on good pitches."
Groenewegen took the win in the circle going three innings while not giving up a hit and striking out four batters. Nikki Anderson came in and was solid as well for the second day in a row pitching two innings while only giving up two hits and a run. The run was the only one allowed between Groenewegen and Anderson on the weekend.
"They did great. If you get great pitching and defense you are going to beat a lot of teams. We had that this weekend," Allister said.
After a scoreless first inning the Maroon and Gold blew the game open in the second smacking three home runs. Groenewegen led off with almost a mirror image of her home run yesterday lifitng it over the left field wall for her eighth this season. Groenewegen hit .556 on the weekend with two homers.
Maddie Houlihan singled next and Paige Palkovich was walked. Kayla Wenner brought in Houlihan with a double back to the center field wall.
Later in the inning with two on and two outs Sam Macken had a high hit ball carry all the way over the field wall to score three for her tenth of the season. She had two on weekend hitting .500.
Danielle Parlich followed up blasting a shot over the left field wall. Not only did she record her first home run of the season but Parlich also hit an impressive .545 while scoring five runs this weekend.
Two more runs came in the fourth inning for Minnesota. Macken hit her 17th double of the season and was brought home by a Parlich single. Parlich was later brought home by a Groenewegen single through the left side.
Brandi McGregor dropped a single to center to lead off the fifth inning and later scored as Sydney Fabian reached on an error. Taylor Chell stepped up to the plate next as a pinch hitter and destroyed a ball to left center picking up her first collegiate home run on her first collegiate hit.
Macken made a great fielding play to start the bottom of the fifth as she sprinted to the middle of the infield, scooped a grounder and fired to first for the out. The Gophers came one out away from throwing a combined no-hitter before Rutgers hit a double and a single to score a run.
Minnesota had 11 hits today and finish with 33 on the weekend. Groenewegen improves to 21-5 after the win today.
The Gophers will play Nebraska, who has been in and out of the rankings, for a big home series next weekend.
