University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Pacific
Gophers Finish Spring Break On A Tear
3/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 8/9 University of Minnesota Gophers topped Pacific 10-0 and 12-1 this afternoon capping off their spring break trip on a four game win streak. In the last four wins the Gophers have outscored their opponents 38-1 and are now 25-2 on the season.
The Gophers will have the weekend off of games. They begin Big Ten play next weekend for a series at Nebraska.
First Game: Minnesota 10, Pacific 0 (5)
Tori Finucane only allowed two hits and no runs while striking out seven batters in the first game of the day. The Gophers only needed five hits to score 10 runs drawing eight walks and being aided by three Pacific errors.
Sam Macken, Danielle Parlich and Sydney Dwyer each recorded two RBIs in the win. Dwyer brought in the first two runs with a single to right center in the top of the first inning. Dani Wagner would later record an RBI walk and two more first inning runs came in on an error at third base.
After the five first inning runs it took the Gophers until the fifth inning to score again. Allie Arneson drew a bases loaded walk to record an RBI. Macken stepped up next and drilled a single scoring two more. Parlich then blasted a double to left center for the Gophers final two runs.
Finucane threw two more strikeouts in the fifth inning to cap off her successful day in the circle. She moves to 4-1 on the season with a 3.03 ERA and 34 strikeouts.
Second Game: Minnesota 12, Pacific 1 (5)
Pacific took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but the Gophers blew the game open in the third scoring 10 runs on nine hits.
The Gophers had 13 hits in the game led by Parlich who had three. Dwyer, Sara Groenewegen and Kendyl Lindaman all hit home runs. Amber Fiser pitched all five innings and only allowed four hits with three strikeouts.
Pacific scored using back-to-back singles and an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the first. MaKenna Partain made a pair of nifty plays at second to prevent any more damage. She came all the way across the field and flipped to second in time for the second out. For the third she sat back on a high bouncing grounder and threw to first in time to get out of the inning.
Parlich's second single of the game started a big third inning for the Maroon and Gold that would see them go through 14 at bats. Lindaman brought in the tying run with an RBI single to third. A little later Dwyer drilled her fifth home run of the season scoring three runs. Dwyer is hitting .434 with 40 RBIs through 27 games.
Groenewegen drew a walk, Wagner singled and Arneson singled to load the bases back up. Macken knocked a double down the right field line to score two. Parlich hit a high ball to center that was lost in the sun for a double that scored two more runs.
Lindaman stepped into the box later with two outs on the board and smacked her team leading seventh home run of the season to add three more runs and cap off the big inning.
Groenewegen led off the fourth inning with a home run over the wall in left for her second this season. Wagner scored the final run of the game on an error by Pacific.
In the bottom of the fourth Fiser forced a three up, three down as Ellie Cowger, Kaylen Krueger and Katelyn Kemmetmueller all made nice plays in the field. Fiser moves to 5-0 on the season with a 2.94 ERA and 30 strikeouts after the victory.
The Gophers mainly have B1G games left this season with only two nonconference doubleheaders left on the schedule. They will play 16 home games in April. There are limited season tickets left. Call 1-800-U-GOPHER to get yours today!
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