University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northwestern
Gophers Fall in Extras to Northwestern, 11-10
3/24/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. - On a frigid Saturday afternoon in the north suburbs of Chicago, Minnesota (17-13) fell short of holding off a late Northwestern (19-8) rally as the Gophers fell in extras 11-10.
Frigid temperatures delayed the start of Saturday's game by over two hours, but the cold did not freeze the two explosive offenses as the teams combined for 21 runs on 26 hits. Kendyl Lindaman launched her second go-ahead home run of the day to lead off the top of the eighth in hopes of sealing the deal for Minnesota. Northwestern though gave the Gophers a taste of déjà vu with a leadoff home run of their own to tie the game back up at 10-10. The Wildcats did not go away easy collecting a one-out double off the bottom of the center field wall before a walk put runners at first and second. A ground ball up the middle stayed in the infield as a diving MaKenna Partain stepped on the bag at second for the force out putting runners on the corners and one out. For the second day in a row, Northwestern sent a walk-off single through the left side to capture the victory.
Partain put the Gophers on the scoreboard early with a solo shot to center just four pitches into the game. The offense continued to produce runs as Danielle Parlich sent a chopper, two-hopper to the left side where the Northwestern shortstop miss played the ball allowing a pair of runs to score for the Gophers to take an early 3-0 lead.
Northwestern responded to the Gophers' early run with one swing of the bat. Following a walk and a double, Sammy Nettling made the right kind of contact against Minnesota starter Amber Fiser sending a game-tying shot over the left center wall. Making a change in the circle, Sydney Smith faced a challenge fresh out of the pin when a towering fly ball dropped in the infield loading the bases for Northwestern. Working out of the jam, Smith recorded a strikeout before a fielder's choice to short retired the home half of the second.
Both teams put on a firework display at the plate in the fourth inning combining for nine runs. Minnesota began the offensive show with a pair of home runs following a pair of strikeouts that started the inning. Lindaman squared up on the seventh pitch of the at bat to send a three-run home run over the left field fence. Two batters later Maddie Houlihan recorded her first home run of the year opening up the lead with a towering two-run shot that was also over the left field wall.
The Wildcats responded with some offense of their own. Loading the bases early, Northwestern cut into the Gophers lead with a run on a rare fielder's choice force play from Houlihan in right to Arneson covering second. A batter later, the Wildcats cut the lead once again with a three-run home run making it 8-7.
Minnesota added an insurance run in the sixth before Northwestern strung together another seventh inning rally in the series. The Wildcats plated two runs on two hits and an error to force extra innings where the Wildcats completed their second comeback win of the series.
Suffering the loss, Carlie Brandt threw 3.2 innings of relief after replacing Smith, allowing six hits and three earned runs.
Up Next
Minnesota and Northwestern close out the opening weekend of Big Ten play Sunday, March 25. The series finale is set to air on Big Ten Network with first pitching coming at noon.
