University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
12-8
Arizona State
19-2
Gophers Fall to No. 14 Arizona State
3/9/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. - On a picture perfect night for softball, Minnesota (12-8) opened up their spring break trip with a loss No. 14 Arizona State (18-2), 6-0.
"I think as we keep moving forward and the team stays committed to buying in, we will be rewarded," said head coach Jamie Trachsel following the loss. "The results we want are just not happening right now so we have to stay the course and trust what we know."
Sophomore Kendyl Lindaman's two-out double in the top of the first made it look to be a promising offensive night for the Gophers, but Arizona State starter G Juarez had other plans tossing a two-hit shutout.
Arizona State struck early and often, platting runs in the first four innings. The Sun Devils came out swinging on starter Amber Fiser as they struck first with a two-out home run in the opening frame followed by a leadoff home run in the second. In the third, ASU opened up their lead when Danielle Gibson launched her second home run of the game, driving in three runs.
The Gophers made a call to the pin midway through the third as Sydney Smith came in to replace Fiser. Smith in 3.2 innings of relief allowed three hits and one run.
Allie Arneson leading off the sixth inning with a walk notched the Gophers second base runner of the game. The Sun Devil defense stood strong using a pair of ground balls to retire the Gopher half of the sixth.
With one last chance at the plate, Maddie Houlihan launched two-out double off the bottom of the right center wall. A batter later, a hard line shot of the bat of Erika Rozell found its way into a Sun Devil glove to end the game.
Up Next
Minnesota travels to Grand Canyon University on Saturday, March 10 where they take on Georgetown at 5 p.m. CT before taking on the host Antelopes at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Juarez, G (7-1)
L: Fiser, Amber (8-4)
Batting:
2B: Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Houlihan, Maddie 1
Batting:
HR: Howe, Morgan 1 ; Gibson, Danielle 2
RBI: Howe, Morgan 2 ; Gibson, Danielle 4
SH: Gortarez, Jade 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Howe, Morgan 2 ; Chilson, Nichole 1 ; Gibson, Danielle 2 ; Loomis, Bella 1
CS: Hackbarth, Maddi 1
