University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
38-15
Indiana
26-30
Comeback Win Sends Gophers to B1G Championship Game
5/12/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MADISON, Wis. – An hour and 45 minute rain delay could not cool off the Gophers’ bats as Minnesota (38-15) scored six unanswered runs in a 9-4 comeback win against Indiana (26-30), returning to the Big Ten Championship game for the third straight year.
Junior Maddie Houlihan drove in a pair of key runs while scoring the game tying run in the fifth as part of her 2-for-3, two run, two RBI game. Also driving in a pair of runs were MaKenna Partain and Danielle Parlich
The offense continued to produce runs early as the Gophers sent all nine hitters to the plate in the second en route to a three-run inning. Partain drove in the game’s first runs sending a roper up the middle. Dani Wagner and Allie Arneson scored on the single after both drew walks early in the frame. The final run of the inning came when nine-hitter Ellee Jensen crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Indiana challenged starter Amber Fiser who tossed 4.1 innings of work allowing four runs, three of which were earned. Sydney Smith out of the pen picked up her fifth win tossing 2.2 innings of shutout softball while striking out four.
Following the lengthy rain delay, Indiana came out putting up a four spot in the top of the fifth forcing a Minnesota pitching change half way through the inning.
Minnesota responded in the best way possible as Houlihan led off the Gopher fifth with a single before scoring on a single by Parlich. Dani Wanger scored on the next at-bat as Arneson failed to lay down a bunt and the throw to third hit Wagner in the leg. The ball scooted just far enough away from the Indiana defense to score the senior outfielder making it 5-4.
Four straight hits opened up the Minnesota sixth inning as the Gophers plated four more unanswered runs to their already two. Kendyl Lindaman doubled to bring in the inning’s first run before Houlihan drove in two more. Parlich capped off the inning with a hard shot up the middle to score Houlihan for the 9-4 lead.
A pair of leadoff singles did not bother Smith as she slammed the door on a Hoosier scoring opportunity. A game ending strikeout by Smith completed the come from behind win for Minnesota to make an appearance in their third-straight Big Ten title game.
Up next
The Big Ten Tournament championship game is still scheduled to take place on Saturday evening. Minnesota will take on the winner of No. 4 Northwestern and No. 8 Michigan State at a time to be determined following the conclusion of the second semifinal game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Smith, Sydney (5-4)
L: Trainer (17-18)
Batting:
2B: Lacefield 1
RBI: Uden 1 ; Westmoreland 1 ; Lacefield 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Blitz 1 ; Jenkins 1 ; Uden 1 ; Lambert 1
SB: Uden 1
Batting:
2B: Lindaman, Kendyl 1
RBI: Partain, MaKenna 2 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Houlihan, Maddie 2 ; Parlich, Danielle 2
SH: Dwyer, Sydney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Lindaman, Kendyl 1 ; Houlihan, Maddie 2 ; Wagner, Dani 2 ; Arneson, Allie 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 2
SB: Houlihan, Maddie 1
