University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
21-14, 0
Michigan State
14-19, 0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
| Michigan State | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Gophers Split Sunday Twin Bill with Spartans
4/8/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
EAST LANSING, Mich. - A late sparking offense and strong pitching led Minnesota softball to avenge a game one loss taking the second half of a twin bill 6-2 at Secchia Stadium in East Lansing. Minnesota (21-14, 4-3 B1G) dropped the opener to host Michigan State (14-19, 2-6 B1G) 3-2 after the Spartans belted the go-ahead home run in the sixth.
Dani Wagner led the Gophers at the plate going 3-for-7 with one run, one home run and three RBI.
"I used what I knew from game one and balls ended up landing where I wanted them to," said Wagner of her performance. "We got the bats going in the second game, got gritty in the box and started attaching strikes so it all came together for us."
Game one | Michigan State 3, Minnesota 2
The Gophers had their chance early to jump on Michigan State starter Bridgette Rainey loading the bases with one out. A fielder's choice and a fly out to left denied Minnesota of putting up an early run.
Michigan State came out of gates swinging as the Spartans plated the game's first run on a pair of wild pitches by starter Amber Fiser following a one-out double. Adding a run in the fifth via the long ball the Spartans put forth a challenge for the Gophers.
Minnesota sparked a late rally in the sixth to break up the no-hitter for the Spartan's starter. Kendyl Lindaman blasted her 13th home run of the season to dead center putting the Gophers on the scoreboard. Sydney Dwyer followed up Lindaman with a home run of her own tying the game at 2-2.
Defending their home turf, the Spartans jumped back on top as cleanup hitter Kelcey Carrasco cleared the left center fence for a solo home run to give MSU the final lead of the game at 3-2.
Falling to 14-8 on the season, Fiser allowed five hits and one walk while striking out eight.
Game two | Minnesota 6, Michigan State 2
Things heated up quickly in game two as Minnesota struck early. Maddie Houlihan and Dani Wagner connected on back-to-back singles scoring Lindaman and MaKenna Partain in the opening frame.
Michigan State responded plating a run in the home half of the first and third tying the game up 2-2.
Breaking the tie in the fourth, Minnesota plated a pair of runs all with two outs. Back-to-back singles by Ellee Jensen and Partain set up Danielle Parlich to score Jensen on a sacrifice line out to left. Two batters later, Wagner's single through the left side drove in Partain for Minnesota to take a 4-2 lead.
Wagner continued to stay hot at the plate blasting a two-run home run to right field in the seventh extending the Gophers lead to 6-2.
Minnesota starter Carlie Brandt improved to 5-2 in the circle tossing five innings of work allowing two runs, one earned, and six hits with two strikeouts. Fiser picks up her second save of the season with two innings of relief work and striking out four of the seven final batters faced.
Up Next
Minnesota hits the road, prior to a seven-game home stand, traveling to Iowa. The Gophers and Hawkeyes clash in a three-game Big Ten series April 13-15.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brandt, Carlie (5-2)
L: K Zalewski (7-8)
S: Fiser, Amber (2)
Batting:
HR: Wagner, Dani 1
RBI: Parlich, Danielle 1 ; Dwyer, Sydney 1 ; Houlihan, Maddie 1 ; Wagner, Dani 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Partain, MaKenna 2 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Houlihan, Maddie 1 ; Wagner, Dani 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 1
Batting:
2B: E Echols 1
RBI: L Foerster 1 ; K Carrasco 1
Base Running:
RUNS: E Echols 1 ; K Quinlan 1
SB: E Echols 1
