University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
4-0
UNLV
2-1
Gophers Sweep Day Two at SportCo Kick Off
2/10/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score (vs. NDSU) Box Score (vs. UNLV)
LAS VEGAS - Minnesota softball (4-0) made it look as if they were in mid-season form at the plate Saturday afternoon. The Gophers won the day in shutout fashion defeating North Dakota State 4-0 prior to hitting their way past UNLV, 3-0.
"Today was a good day," said head coach Jamie Trachsel. "Our defense made good adjustments from yesterday playing with confidence, composure and consistent execution. We got solid pitching performances from [Amber] Fiser and [Sydney] Smith. The offense had timely hitting and we are looking forward to continuing to get better as we play on championship Sunday tomorrow."
Senior Danielle Parlich led the offensive charge posting a 4-for-6 day in the two spot while adding two RBI. Freshman Elle Jensen highlighted the bottom of the order going 3-for-6 with a double and a run.
Game One | No. 16 Minnesota 4, NDSU 0
Amber Fiser (2-0) remains perfect in the circle as a Golden Gopher tossing a two-hit shutout.
Minnesota struck first in the opening frame as leadoff hitter MaKenna Partain scored off a Bison wild pitch. The Gophers saw another opportunity to extend the lead with back-to-back two out singles from Partain and Parlich in the second, but were stranded following a ground out.
Allowing a pair of walks in third did not phase Fiser who retired the next 10 hitters. The Gophers offense aided Fiser as Dani Wagner sent three-run bomb over the center field wall extending the lead to 4-0.
Despite allowing a single to lead off the seventh, Fiser notched a fly out, strikeout and ground out to earn the complete game.
Game Two | Minnesota 3, UNLV 0
It didn't take long for Minnesota to get the bats rolling as Partain led off the game with a triple down the right field line. Parlich wasted no time driving in Partain giving the Gophers an early lead.
In the third, Elle Jensen led off the inning with a double to left field and crossed the plate two batters later as Parlich drove in her second run of the day.
Sydney Smith (2-0) in the circle retired seven of the nine hitters she face early on. The right-handed junior picked up the shutout win recording seven strikeouts.
Leading off the top of the third, Sydney Dwyer gave the Gophers an insurance run courtesy of the long ball making it 3-0. The blast to right field is Minnesota's fourth leadoff home run of the season.
UNLV (2-1) could not handle the work of Smith in the circle. A double to begin the bottom of the seventh was no match for the Gopher defense as a pair of pop outs and a strikeout diminished the Rebels last hope.
Day Two Notes
-The last time Minnesota shut out two different opponents on the same day was on February 12, 2016. The Gophers defeated Utah Valley 9-0 and Oklahoma 1-0.
- Minnesota was 8-of-13 with their leadoff batter.
-Amber Fiser is a perfect 16-0 in the circle as a Gopher.
-Dani Wagner recorded hits in both games to tie her career-long hit streak of seven games.
-Danielle Parlich extends her hitting streak to six games.
-Minnesota leads all-time series 21-2 against North Dakota State.
-Against UNLV, the Gophers lead the all-time series 6-5. Five of the six wins have been during a true road game versus the Rebels.
Up Next
Minnesota hits the dirt for the final game of the weekend Sunday morning as they take on Creighton at 11 a.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Sydney (2-0)
L: BURKE,Breana (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Jensen, Ellee 1
3B: Partain, MaKenna 1
HR: Dwyer, Sydney 1
RBI: Parlich, Danielle 2 ; Dwyer, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Dwyer, Sydney 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 1
CS: Parlich, Danielle 1
Batting:
2B: VELA,Emily 1
Base Running:
SB: CANDELAS,Jaclyn 1 ; BUENO,Myranda 1
