University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
14-8
Grand Canyon
15-13
Gophers Combined 22 Hits Lead to Pair of Wins
3/10/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
PHOENIX, Ariz. - A rare rainy night in Phoenix did not stop the Minnesota (14-8) bats from catching fire in a pair of wins at the Grand Canyon Invitational. Minnesota brought sunshine to a cloudy day recording 10 hits in a shutout win against Georgetown (6-16), 8-0. In the nightcap, the Gophers posted a nine-run seventh inning en route to a victory over host Grand Canyon (15-13), 10-2.
"We kept having quality at bats with our entire lineup," said head coach Jamie Trachsel. "We are proud that we never sat on anything and kept attacking to put one of our best innings of the year together [against Grand Canyon]."
Sophomore MaKenna Partain stole the show offensively going 4-for-8 with a double, a triple, and four RBI while crossing the plate three times.
"It felt good," said Partain of the wins. "Just attacking, being aggressive and having extra energy from the dugout really gave us the extra boost to put balls in play."
Game one | Minnesota 8, Georgetown 0 (6 innings)
Scoring early and often, the Gophers opened up the day plating three runs in the opening frame. A sacrifice fly by Sydney Dwyer put Minnesota on the board scoring Partain. Kendyl Lindaman, who reached on an error, crossed the plate on a Georgetown fielding error. Maddie Houlihan added the third run as Danielle Parlich roped a single up the middle.
Georgetown tested Minnesota sophomore right-hander Carlie Brandt from the start. Coming out swinging, the Hoyas traded off strikeouts and singles in the first before Brandt knocked down a chopper back at her to end the opening frame.
With the offense just getting started, Lindaman began the third with a double to center. Trading places with Lindaman, Dwyer sent a RBI double to right center. Two batters later Parlich notched her second RBI of the game scoring Dwyer.
The Hoyas once again tested the Gophers defense with back-to-back singles in the third. Brandt recorded her third strikeout of the game before surrendering a walk to load the bases. With two outs, Houlihan tracked down a ball in the right-center gap denying Georgetown of a run.
Minnesota continued to add runs plating one in the fourth, fifth and sixth. Highlighting the final three innings was a leadoff triple from Partain, scoring on an ensuing pass ball.
Brandt picked up the win in the circle tossing four scoreless innings while recording three strikeouts. Freshman Hannah Bailey out of the pin combined with Brandt for the shutout allowing just one hit in two innings of work while striking out two.
Game two | Minnesota 10, Grand Canyon 2
The Maroon and Gold did what they do best and that is scoring runs in the seventh inning. A nine-run seventh inning that saw 15 Gophers come to the plate, helped lift the Gophers past the Antelopes.
Lindaman started the seventh on a high note, breaking the 1-1 tie with a solo shot over the left field fence for her seventh home run of the season. That was only the beginning as a hit-by-pitch put Dwyer on first. With Macy Gill in as a pinch runner, Houlihan moved Gill up 60 feet with a sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Erika Rozell legged out an infield single allowing Gill to score. A fielder's choice, a GCU error and a walk loaded up the bases with two outs for Minnesota. That's when Partain opened the flood gates with a bases clearing double to extend the lead to 7-1. A walk and four singles later the Gophers found themselves with a nine run lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Starter Amber Fiser tossed another gem of a complete game striking out six while allowing two runs, none of which were earned.
Scoring in the first, Partain drove in the Gophers first run scoring freshman Ellee Jensen who led off the game with a double. With a one run lead, Fiser retired the first 10 batters she faced.
Grand Canyon did not go away quietly tying the game up in the fifth. The host Lopes manufactured a run following a leadoff single and a Gopher error. Trailing in the home half of the seventh, GCU posted one more run while also seeing the extraordinary defensive efforts of Jensen in centerfield in the closing frame.
Up Next
Minnesota heads back to Tempe, Ariz. to close out a three-game series with No. 14/14 Arizona State in doubleheader action Sunday, March 11 beginning at 4 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fiser, Amber (9-4)
L: Morrison, Y (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Jensen, Ellee 1 ; Partain, MaKenna 1
HR: Lindaman, Kendyl 1
RBI: Partain, MaKenna 4 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Dwyer, Sydney 1 ; Parlich, Danielle 1 ; Rozell, Erika 1 ; Krueger, Kaylen 1
SH: Houlihan, Maddie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jensen, Ellee 2 ; Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 2 ; Dwyer, Sydney 1 ; Gill, Macy 1 ; Rozell, Erika 1 ; Velazquez, Alex 1 ; Kemmetmueller, Katelyn 1
SB: Partain, MaKenna 1
HBP: Dwyer, Sydney 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gomez, L 2
