University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-0
Utah Valley
0-1
Gophers Take Two at SportCo Kick Off
2/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Final Stats (game 1) Final Stats (game 2)
LAS VEGAS - Luck was not need Friday afternoon in Las Vegas, Nev. as the Gophers' bats did all the talking. Minnesota scored a combined 16 runs while eight different Gophers recorded RBI on day one of the UNLV SportCo Kick Off Classic. The Gophers kicked off the day with an 8-5 victory over Southern Utah before defeating Utah Valley in the night cap, 8-3.
Sophomore MaKenna Partain and Kendyl Lindaman as well as senior Dani Wagner led the Golden Gopher offense on day one. Partain in the leadoff spot went 4-for-6 collecting a triple, three RBI and scored twice. The Lindaman home run tracker is in full force as the All-American sent two out on her 4-for-7 day that included three RBI. Wagner led the middle of the order going 4-for 6 with a double, two runs and three RBI.
Game One | No. 16 Minnesota 8, Southern Utah 5
Junior Sydney Smith (1-0) made her Minnesota debut in the circle. The Maple Grove, Minn. native tossed six innings of work allowing five runs, four of which were earned, and recorded three strikeouts.
It took no time for the Golden Gopher bats to get hot in the 2018 season. Partain started her 2-for-3 game with a triple down the right field line and would score on an ensuing sacrifice fly from Danielle Parlich. Minnesota then tacked on a pair of runs to jump to an early 3-1 lead.
In the third, Erika Rozell nabbed her first RBI of the season driving in Sydney Dwyer who led the inning off with a walk. Two batters later and the bases loaded, MaKenna Partain racked up a pair of RBI with a sharp single up the middle to send the Gopher lead to 6-1.
Smith who worked her way out of a jam in the third, surrendered a run in the fourth to keep a four run cushion for the Maroon and Gold.
The Gophers responded back as Lindaman collected her first home run of the year to lead off the fourth inning. Dwyer extended the Gophers lead to 8-2 after coming around to score on a walk delivered to Elle Jensen.
The Thunderbirds did not go down easy using a pair of singles and a double in the fifth to cut the Gopher lead down to 8-4. Southern Utah's Mikaela Thomson dwindled the Gophers lead following a solo shot to begin the sixth as the Minnesota bats were kept quiet.
In the final frame Amber Fiser stepped inside the circle replacing Smith. Fiser collected her first collegiate save mowing down the SUU hitters with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout giving Minnesota their first win of the 2018 season.
Game Two | No. 16 Minnesota 8, Utah Valley 3
Pitching highlighted game two as Amber Fiser (1-0) matched a career-high nine strikeouts in the complete game victory.
A pitcher's duel through four frames woke up the Minnesota offensive who struck first, plating three runs in the fifth. Wagner began the frame reaching on an error as Rozell advanced her on a sacrifice bunt. Back-to-back-to-back singles by Katelyn Kemmetmueller, Jensen and Partain continued the scoring affair.
Lindamna did what Lindaman does best, leading off the sixth with a solo shot to left center. The Gophers took advantage of a Utah Valley throwing error to tack on one more for a 5-0 lead.
Utah Valley tested the arm of the Van Horne, Iowa sophomore with three singles and a triple to lead off the six which cut the Gophers' lead down by two. Fiser had no trouble after, working her way out of the sixth.
Minnesota registered two more runs for good measure in the seventh to open up the lead to 8-5.
A one-out double in the bottom of the seventh was no match for the poised Fiser as she collected a strikeout and a groundout to end the game.
DAY ONE NOTES
- Amber Fiser collected her first collegiate save against Southern Utah and matched a career-high nine strikeouts in the complete game win against Utah Valley.
- Eight different Gophers recorded RBI in the 16 run effort.
- Sydney Smith recorded her first win in a Gopher uniform, throwing six innings against Southern Utah.
- Freshman Alex Velazquez made her first plate appearance as a Gopher as she drew a four pitch walk.
- MaKenna Partain now has nine career multi-RBI games.
- Head Coach Jamie Trachsel made her Minnesota coaching debut gathering two wins.
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns to action bright and early tomorrow as they take on North Dakota State at 11 a.m. CT, before squaring off with host UNLV at 3:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fiser, Amber (1-0)
L: Jensen, Addie (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Wagner, Dani 1
HR: Lindaman, Kendyl 1
RBI: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Parlich, Danielle 1 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 2 ; Wagner, Dani 2 ; Kemmetmueller, Katelyn 1
SH: Rozell, Erika 2
SF: Parlich, Danielle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Parlich, Danielle 1 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Cowger, Ellie 1 ; Gill, Macy 1 ; Wagner, Dani 1 ; Kemmetmueller, Katelyn 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 1
SB: Partain, MaKenna 2 ; Rozell, Erika 1
Batting:
2B: Query, Basia 1
3B: Moeller, Brianna 1
RBI: Moeller, Brianna 2 ; Andersen, Kirsten 1
SH: Bunderson, Karly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Basinger, Katie 1 ; Query, Basia 1 ; Moeller, Brianna 1
SB: Steverson, Lyndsey 1 ; Cook, Skylar 1
CS: Andersen, Kirsten 1
