University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
27-14, 10-3
Nebraska
30-17, 8-8
Lindaman, Houlihan Homer in Sweep of Nebraska
4/22/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tickets: Gophers Host Wisconsin Wednesday
MINNEAPOLIS - A pair of two-run home runs by sophomore Kendyl Lindaman and junior Maddie Houlihan led Minnesota softball to a Big Ten sweep of Nebraska in front of a sold out Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Now on a season-high seven game winning streak, the Gophers (27-14, 10-3 Big Ten) recorded their second-straight conference sweep defeating the Cornhuskers (30-17, 8-8 Big Ten) in the series finale 5-1.
"We are playing well in a lot of different areas and a lot of different kids are consistently performing," said head coach Jamie Trachsel of the winning streak. "We have been out executing our opponents and we have been doing it in different ways. We have room to get better and we will with good practices in front of us."
Minnesota wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, in fact it only took five pitches for the Gophers to take a two-run lead. Lindaman continued to chase her own history with a two-run home run connecting on the first pitch of the at-bat. Now her 17th of the season, Lindaman is three shy of the single-season record.
Nebraska responded right back with a solo shot for their only run of the game to dwindle the early Minnesota lead to 2-1.
There was no panic from the Minnesota offense who had been on fire all weekend. The runs continued to come in early as Allie Arneson scored on a Nebraska error in the second.
Sophomore right-hander Amber Fiser threw lights out again improving to 19-8 on the season in her 20th complete game of the year. Through the final four frames, Fiser allowed two hits before ending the day with seven strikeouts.
In the third, a leadoff single by Lindaman to the left side set the stage for Houlihan to connect on her fourth home run of the season. The two-run long ball to left field helped the Plymouth, Minn. native reach a new career-high 11 game hitting streak.
Both teams put zeros on the scoreboard in the final four innings as Minnesota collected a program-best 26th straight win at home.
Up next
A Border Battle between Minnesota and Wisconsin is on deck for the Gophers. Welcoming the Badgers to Minneapolis, the Big Ten rivals meet on Wednesday, April 25 in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Game one is set to air live on Big Ten Network while game two will air on BTN Plus live and on BTN via tape-delay at 8 p.m. CT. Fans wanting to see the Gophers and Badgers in person can purchase tickets by clicking here.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fiser, Amber (19-8)
L: Kaylan Jablonski (21-11)
Batting:
HR: Kaylan Jablonski 1
RBI: Kaylan Jablonski 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaylan Jablonski 1
CS: Alyvia Simmons 1
Batting:
2B: Parlich, Danielle 1
HR: Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Houlihan, Maddie 1
RBI: Lindaman, Kendyl 2 ; Houlihan, Maddie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 2 ; Houlihan, Maddie 1 ; Arneson, Allie 1
HBP: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Brandt, Carlie 1
