University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Illinois
Dwyer's Walk-Off Sends Gophers To B1G Championship
5/13/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Sydney Dwyer blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning in today's Big Ten Tournament semifinal matchup with Illinois to send the Gophers to their second straight championship game.
WATCH: Does it get any more clutch? You are a hero @syddwy! https://t.co/6xkyrhOzVP
- Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 13, 2017
The Gophers won 6-5 in what was a back-and-forth game all afternoon. The Fighting Illini went up 2-0 early but the Gophers used two home runs in the bottom of the fourth to sway momentum. Dwyer hit her first home run of the game to leadoff the frame. Later Kendyl Lindaman stepped up with the bases loaded and launched her 20th home run of the season.
Illinois answered back with a home run in the fifth to tie up the game at 5-5. The Gophers used three pitchers in the game. Amber Fiser got the start and went four innings. She only allowed two hits and had three strikeouts. Carlie Brandt saw one inning of work and Sara Groenewegen closed the door in the final two innings.WATCH: @Kendyl_23's 20th home run of the season was the biggest yet! The #Gophers lead 5-2 after four! https://t.co/3uw7n7Ls9n
- Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 13, 2017
Groenewegen picked up the win moving to 29-2 on the season. She had help with a big diving catch in center from Dani Wagner.
The Gophers only needed one batter in the bottom of the seventh with Dwyer's second career walk-off home run ending the game. After this afternoon's numbers Dwyer and Lindaman both have 74 RBIs this season. That mark ties them both with Shannon Beeler's Gophers single season record.WATCH: @dwagner215 with an unreal diving catch for the third out in the sixth! #BTNStandout #NCAATop10 #SCTop10 https://t.co/Yi7IU4mh30
- Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 13, 2017
Danielle Parlich notched three hits in the game and is hitting .714 in the B1G Tournament. The Gophers are set to play around 5 p.m. CT against the winner of Ohio State-Michigan State. The start time will likely be pushed back so make sure to follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates. That game can be viewed on the Big Ten Network.
Tournament Central
