Gophers Outlast Rain in B1G Quarterfinal Win, 6-0

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Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Wisconsin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2
Minnesota	2	2	0	0	1	1	X	6	10	1

Wisconsin

Minnesota

May 11, 2018

MADISON, Wis. - It was a day of delays as Minnesota overcame six-plus hours of rain and helicopter delays en route to a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal win over Wisconsin, 6-0. Sophomore MaKenna Partain led the way at the plate going 3-for-4 driving in one run and scoring three times.

"That's a tough day for anybody and I am really proud of how we handled that," said head coach Jamie Trachsel of the long day. "It was a huge team win, great character and the energy was incredible as it was a great way to start the tournament."

First pitch was right on time at 11:02 a.m. as Minnesota (37-15) plated two runs early on Wisconsin (28-31) in the first before the rain came down. Maddie Houlihan drove in the game's first run scoring Partain who led off the half inning with a double. Sydney Dwyer pushed the lead up another run as she sent one through the left side giving enough time for Kendyl Lindaman to score.

Then the rains came down as both teams were left waiting for 12 minutes before resuming. That was only the beginning of delays as just six minutes after resumption of play the rain came down once again in the first inning. This time the teams would return to the dirt four hours and 50 minutes later.

The extended break did not silence the Gophers' bats as they came back out plating two more runs in the second. Partain recorded her only RBI of the game to score Ellee Jensen who led off the bottom half of the frame with a double. In the three-spot of the lineup,  Houlihan drove in her second run of the game sending a rocket down the right field line as her second triple of the year scored Partain.

Starter Amber Fiser made quick work of the Wisconsin lineup, retiring eight of the first nine hitters. In the fourth with Wisconsin at the doorstep of scoring, Fiser picked up a ground ball that turned into a double play before a strikeout sent the Badgers out of the fourth scoreless. Improving to 26-9 Fiser tossed four innings of shutout ball while striking out seven.

As if two delays was not enough, the teams had to depart the field one more time before finishing out the fourth frame. Due to heavy amounts of rain, reinforcements were called in as a helicopter was brought in to further dry the outfield.

Following a 45 minute chopper delay that led to a scoreless fourth, Minnesota's bat picked right up where they left off. Dani Wagner sent a double to the left field gap scoring Houlihan who led off the inning with a single. In the sixth, Lindaman came up big with a two-out double scoring Partin.

Sydney Smith made an appearance out of the pen tossing the final three innings to collect her second save of the season. Smith made quick work of the Badger lineup not allowing a hit while striking out four.

Up next
Minnesota will take on the winner of No. 6 Illinois and No. 3 Indiana on Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m. in the Big Ten semifinals. The Big Ten Championship game is still scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday night.

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Team Stats

Partain MaKenna

Houlihan Maddie

Jensen Ellee

Lindaman Kendyl

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