University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NR/23 Nebraska
Gophers Cruise to Win over Nebraska
4/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 24/23 University of Minnesota Gophers cruised to a 6-0 win over Nebraska this evening behind a one-hit shutout by Sara Groenewegen.
"Great win against a really team. We came out and took aggressive swings on great pitches. We pitched great and played good aggressive defense," head coach Jessica Allister said. "The crowd was good and gave us a lot of energy. We have to know that Nebraska is a good team and that today has no barring on tomorrow."
The Gophers came out swinging early loading the bases in the first inning but Nebraska was able to get out of the jam.
Nebraska got their one and only hit to open the second inning. From then on Groenewegen and the Gophers defense were in complete control. Groenewegen had four of her nine strikeouts in the first two innings.
In the top of the second inning Kayla Wenner lifted the second pitch she saw out of the park with a home run to center field to put the Maroon and Gold on the board. Sydney Fabian and Sam Macken each got on base but again the Huskers got out without allowing any more damage to keep the game close.
Sydney Fabian came up with a diving catch to get the Gophers out of the third inning and was not done impacting the game.
Down 0-2 in the count Fabian rocked a pitch to left center with one out on the board in the fourth inning scoring two runs in front of the 708 loud and proud Gopher fans that were in attendance this evening.
Later in the inning Macken drilled her 19th double of the season putting her fourth all-time in Gopher history for most doubles in a season.
After another three up, three down the Maroon and Gold stayed hot in the fifth inning. Groenewegen singled to left field and had Erika Rozell come in to run for her. Rozell took off on a wild pitch going all the way from first to third sliding in just safe.
Maddie Houlihan brought her home driving a single right up the middle on the first pitch she saw. Paige Palkovich was hit by a pitch for the twelvth tie this season putting runners on first and second with one out on the board.
A run came in as Wenner placed one to center and reached on an error. Sydney Dwyer scored one more with an RBI ground out.
Groenewegen kept firing in the circle with two more strikeouts forcing another one-two-three in the sixth inning and the game finished on none other than a Groenewegen strike out in the seventh inning.
Groenewegen moves to 22-5 on the season and has brought her ERA down to 1.68 after the dominant performance.
Minnesota had nine hits in the game with Macken, Groenewegen, Houlihan and Fabian all recording two.
The two teams meet again tomorrow with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Schedule Update: Sunday's game has been moved up to an 11 a.m. start time.
To stay up to date all schedule changes follow us on social media @GopherSports.
