University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Illinois
Lindaman Leads Offensive Eruption In 12-0 Win
3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The No. 6/6 University of Minnesota Gophers (29-2, 4-0) erupted for 10 runs in the fifth inning in a 12-0 win over the University of Illinois (23-9, 3-1). Kendyl Lindaman accounted for six of those runs with two fifth inning home runs including a grand slam.
Lindaman has a team leading 10 home runs on the season. She has a .814 slugging percentage and 37 RBIs after tonight's big performance.
Sara Groenewegen pitched another gem to match the offensive firepower. She only allowed one hit in five innings while striking out eight batters. Groenewegen is now 14-1 on the season with a 0.54 ERA and 123 strikeouts.
The Gophers used patience at the plate to score two first inning runs. Sam Macken and Lindaman each drew walks. MaKenna Partain loaded the bases with a perfectly placed bunt. Sydney Dwyer notched an RBI walk and Groenewegen added an RBI after she was hit by a pitch for the eighth time this season.
Groenewegen forced three quick outs in the first and struck out the side in the second. Not only did she record strikeouts but Groenewegen also made a number of nice fielding plays. In the third she played a bunt cleanly and in the fourth she made a nice backhand.
The Maroon and Gold offense was quiet with two hits through four innings but exploded in the fifth. They drilled eight hits for 10 runs.
Maddie Houlihan got things started with a sneaky bunt to third. Lindaman stepped up right after and launched a home run to left center. Partain reached on an error and was later brought in by a Dani Wagner double to left for the fifth run of the game.
Taylor Chell came in to pinch hit and knocked in Wagner with a single to left. Sam Macken put runners on the corners with a single and Danielle Parlich loaded the bases after a hit by pitch. Houlihan drew a walk to to bring in another run and keep the bases loaded for Lindaman.
With the count at 1-1 Lindaman sailed a ball over the wall for a grand slam to put an exclamation point on her big evening.
"It is still kind of unbelievable to me. I don't think I have ever done that in my life," Lindaman said. "I was just going up there looking to score my teammates that were on the bases. It just happened to both be by home runs."
Partain stepped up next and soared her own home run out of the park with a shot to right. She has now homered twice this season and is hitting .432 on the year.
Groenewegen forced another three up, three down in the fifth to seal the win. The Gophers have now won eight straight games and are 29-2 on the season. They will play Illinois again tomorrow with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
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