University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Fresno State
Gophers Top Bulldogs, Move To 11-0
2/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Sydney Dwyer and Dani Wagner each hit three run home runs as the No. 12/11 University of Minnesota Gophers topped the Fresno State Bulldogs 9-2 this evening.
The victory extends the Gophers program record for longest win streak to start a season. They are now 11-0 this year. Sara Groenewegen is 6-0 this season with a 0.82 ERA and 48 strikeouts after another solid performance in the circle. She went five innings and fired in eight strikeouts while only allowing one earned run.
The first two innings went by quickly with neither team getting a run across but the Gophers wasted no time scoring in the third. Allie Arneson led off with a double down the left field line and was brought home by Sam Macken's fourth double of the season.
Kendyl Lindaman made two great fielding plays in the bottom of the third to help keep the Bulldogs off the board. She made a catch in foul territory for the second out and gunned down a runner trying to steal second for the third. The Gophers then jumped out to a big lead in the fourth.
With runners on first and second Wagner took a pitch and launched it beyond the wall in center for her third home run in the past four games. Arneson drew a walk right after and Macken delivered a single through the left side. Danielle Parlich knocked in Arneson with a double to left giving the Gophers a comfortable 5-0 lead.
Groenewegen locked in with two strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth. The Maroon and Gold threatened in the fifth loading the bases with just one out on the board. Fresno State got out of the jam only allowing one run as Arneson picked up the RBI walk.
The Bulldogs recorded three hits and scored a run in the bottom of the fifth but the Gophers answered in the sixth in the form of a Dwyer home run.
With runners on first and second Dwyer got a hold of a ball for her second home run of the season. She recorded six hits and six RBIs in today's two games. She is hitting .531 with 17 RBIs through 11 games.
Amber Fiser came in to pitch in the sixth and seventh innings. She gave up one run but had two strikeouts and only allowed two hits. She has a 1.75 ERA in 12 innings pitched this season.
The Gophers will play another pair of games tomorrow. They rematch UC Davis at 11 a.m. and play Cal Poly at 1:30 p.m. They topped UC Davis 10-1 in five innings earlier today. Recap that game here.
Don't forget to follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all season long to keep up with the latest news, features, videos and more!
