University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Notre Dame
Gophers Win Behind Groenewegen's Gem
2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sara Groenewegen recorded a complete game 15 strikeout gem as the No. 13/13 University of Minnesota Gophers topped Notre Dame 4-1 this afternoon.
The Gophers freshmen again made a huge difference in the game as Kaylen Krueger and Kendyl Lindaman each hit home runs and MaKenna Partain went 3-4 with an RBI.
The first three innings flew by in a complete pitcher's duel. Groenewegen struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced. Notre Dame's first hit of the game came in the fourth with a triple down the right field line. They took advantage using an RBI groundout to score the first run of the game.
The Gophers bats were slow to start the game but Krueger swung momentum crushing her first collegiate hit for a home run over the right field wall to tie the game.
Lindaman's one out solo shot to center broke the tie in the sixth inning. That was her second home run of the season. Partain and Sydney Dwyer followed it up with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Partain was able to score on a wild pitch as the pitcher lost control of the ball and had it soar into the outfield.
Groenewegen again made quick work of the Fighting Irish in the bottom of the sixth and the Gophers bats kept rolling in the seventh. Danielle Parlich chopped a single up the middle and Maddie Houlihan smoked a chopper in the same spot to put runners on second and third early.
Partain recorded her third hit of the day with an RBI single that bounced just over the third baseman's glove. She is hitting a team leading .579 this season.
Groenewegen finished off the game with two more strikeouts and a fly out in the bottom of the seventh. She moves to 3-0 on the season with a 0.98 ERA and 30 strikeouts.
The Gophers are 6-0 on the season. They play two more games at the ACC/B1G Challenge tomorrow with a rematch against Notre Dame at 11:30 a.m. and a game against North Carolina State at 4:30 p.m.
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