University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NR/23 Nebraska
Groenewegen Hits Walk-off Clinching Series
4/23/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sara Groenewegen had five RBI with a grand slam but it was a single that proved to be the biggest hit of the game as the Gophers won in walk-off fashion topping the Nebraska Cornhuskers 11-10 this afternoon.
"Yeah the bat was in my hands and the destiny of the ball game was in my hands but I went into the box thinking it was just another at bat. Just seeing a strike, hitting a strike and that was what happened," Groenewegen said.
Minnesota went down 5-2 after the third but came storming back with eight runs in the fourth. Nebraska clawed back to tie the game going into the bottom of the seventh when Groenewegen drilled a single to right field bringing in Sam Macken for the game winning run.
"We talk a lot with the girls about being brave and not perfect. I thought today was a perfect example of that," head coach Jessica Allister said. "I just could not be more proud of our resiliency and fight. It was great to be able to do it in front of a great home crowd."
Groenewegen came into the game having only allowed one earned run in her past 22.2 innings thrown but the Huskers made it a bit more difficult this afternoon. Nebraska jumped out to a 1-0 lead bringing in their first run of the series in the top of the first.
The Maroon and Gold quickly answered with Taylor LeMay booming a two RBI homer to left center in the bottom of the inning. She had two RBI, scored two runs and walked twice in the win.
After a quick second inning, Nebraska went to work scoring four runs in the third inning to go up 5-2 over Minnesota. Nikki Anderson came in to relieve Groenewegen and was brilliant getting the Gophers out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
The senior leadership from the Gophers outfield has been talked about all year so it is no surprise that the three of them helped spark a huge fourth inning as Minnesota regained the lead.
With one out on the board seniors Paige Palkovich and Kayla Wenner hit back-to-back jacks to pull the Gophers within one. Sydney Dwyer followed with a single and was brought home by senior Sydney Fabian as she drilled a triple into the right center gap to tie up the game.
Macken's 20th double of the year brought in Fabian for the go-ahead run. Macken is now tied for third in Gophers history for most doubles in a season. The Gophers were not done yet as Danielle Parlich singled and LeMay was walked to load the bases for Groenewegen.
Groenewegen stepped up and went after the first pitch she saw rocketing it right over the left field wall for a grand slam.
The Gophers used a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the fifth inning to keep their five run lead intact.
The Huskers came out swinging in the sixth inning scoring two runs to pull within three. Groenewegen checked back into the game in the circle as they threatened to score more but a huge fielding play got the Gophers out of trouble. Dani Wagner hustled down a ball toward the third base foul fence, came up with the catch and fired right into the glove of Groenewegen covering third for the double play.
Nebraska forced a three up, three down in the bottom of the sixth and launched a three run home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game up 10-10 with just one out on the board. LeMay came up with a catch by the backstop and Groenewegen fired in a strikeout to leave the game tied heading to the bottom of the seventh.
With one out on the board Fabian was walked and reached second on a wild pitch. Macken was intentionally walked and Parlich was walked to load the bases. LeMay reached on a fielder's choice but Fabian was thrown out at home putting two outs on the board as Groenewegen came to the plate.
Again Groenewegen only needed one pitch placing it perfectly to right field for the walk-off win as Macken came sprinting home sending the 1072 Gopher fans that were packed into Jane Sage Cowles Stadium into an eruption of cheer.
Groenewegen moves to 23-5 on the season after the win. Her day concluded with a win, a grand slam and a walk-off for five RBI. The Gophers had 10 hits all together with four more home runs.
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