University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Maryland
Groenewegen Fires No-Hitter in 10-0 Win
4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sara Groenewegen tossed her third no-hitter of the season and sixth of her career behind a Gophers offense that continues to roll topping Maryland 10-0 in five innings this evening.
"It is an honor to get a no-hitter but I had great defense behind me," Groenewegen said. "Kayla Wenner made an outstanding catch early which really set the tone for the whole game. Maddie Houlihan came back with a three run home run that put us up big and helped me finish it in five innings. It was just a good job altogether."
The Wenner catch was the very first out of the game as she sprawled out for a diving catch.
"It is always good to come out and get a victory. Sara Groenewegen did a great job on the mound. I thought Kayla Wenner set the tone with that great catch in the first inning. Turns out it preserved the no-hitter which is funny because you do not know that is going to happen at the time," head coach Jessica Allister said. "We played some great defense and took great swings on some good pitches. It was a great night of ball."
The Gophers are on a six game win streak outscoring their opponents 53-12 with 16 home runs in that span.
"We are doing a good job of taking our best swings with good pitches in the zone. We are seeing the ball well right now and not trying too hard. We are getting good results," Allister said.
Leading that offense of attack has been Sam Macken. She leads the country in extra base hits and had two more this evening. She started things off for the Maroon and Gold with her 21st double of the season on the first pitch she saw. That double puts her tied for second in Minnesota history for most doubles in a season.
Macken was later brought home by a Taylor LeMay RBI ground out. Maryland put their only two runners on all game in the second inning on a walk and an error. The Gophers field and Groenewegen stayed locked in from that point on.
In the bottom of the second inning Sydney Dwyer singled and Sydney Fabian was walked putting runners on first and second as Macken stepped to the plate. She delivered with her 11th home run of the season launching one to left center. She now has 33 extra base hits this season.
Groenewegen struck out five straight and fielded a grounder for two straight three up, three down innings in the third and fourth. She finished the game with ten strikeouts.
Dwyer and Macken each singled in the fourth and Dwyer was brought home by a Danielle Parlich RBI single to third. LeMay came up next and single right up the middle scoring Macken with Parlich also scoring after an error at third base putting the Gophers up 7-0.
Erika Rozell came in to pinch run. She slid safely back to second as Groenewegen reached on a fielder's choice. Houlihan came up next and came through in a big way smashing her eighth home run of the season to left center giving the Gophers a 10-0 lead.
Groenewegen retired the side in the top of the fifth to complete the no-hitter and the Gophers victory. She is 24-5 on the season with a 1.91 ERA and 260 strikeouts.
The Gophers will be right back at Jane Sage Cowles stadium tomorrow taking on Maryland at 1 p.m.
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