University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ready for Sixth-Straight NCAA Tournament
5/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2018
| #25/20 Minnesota (39-15, 17-4 Big Ten) at NCAA Seattle Regional |
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| Date/Time |
Friday, May 18- Sunday, May 20 (Double-Elimination Bracket) Opening Round vs. Texas // Friday, May 18 // 8 p.m. CT |
| Location | Husky Softball Stadium // Seattle, Wash. |
| Follow Live | Regional Home Page // Watch Online (ESPN Family of Networks) // Bracket |
| Game Notes | Minnesota |
| Social Media | @GopherSoftballl | Facebook | Instagram |
Big Ten Championship T-Shirts Now on Sale!
MINNEAPOLIS - Winning 19 of their last 20 games Minnesota softball travels to Seattle, Wash. for their sixth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 13th overall. No. 23/25 Minnesota opens up the 64-team field tournament against Texas on Friday, May 18 while the host No.5/5 Washington starts out with Boise State. Friday's contest is set for 8 p.m. CT and will air live on ESPN. All games in the Regional will air on the ESPN family of networks.
THE B1G THREE-PEAT
Winning titles in 2016, 2017 and 2018 Minnesota became just the second team in Big Ten Tournament history to win back-to-back-to-back titles. The only other team to accomplish the same feat was Michigan during the 1996-98 season. The Gophers have won four titles in the last five season.
HOULIHAN NAMED B1G M.O.P.
Junior Maddie Houlihan was name the Most Outstanding Player of the Big Ten Tournament after going 7-for-9 with four runs, two triples and five RBI. Houlihan played an integral role in the Gophers 3-0 run in the Big Ten Tournament hitting in the three-spot just behind Lindaman.
In the last 10 games, Houlihan is leading the team with a .545 batting average wher she has gone 18-for-33. During the time she has scored nine times recording one double, two triples, two home runs and notched 17 RBI.
LAST 10 GAMES
Minnesota is 9-1 in their last 10 games, with their only loss coming to Penn State, 3-2 in extras. During the 10-game stretch Minnesota has hit 13 home runs and has a team batting average of .336. The Gophers have been more than productive outscoring the opposition 72-13 and out hitting their foes 93-52.
FOUR OF A KIND
Following an impressive Big Ten Tournament where the Gophers outscored their opponents 24-10, four Maroon and Gold player were named to the All-Tournament Team. Senior Dani Wagner, junior Maddie Houlihan and sophomores MaKenna Partain and Kendyl Lindaman all recieved tournament honors for their outstanding performances.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
797 Senior Danielle Parlich has had quite a career at the plate. With 797 at-bats, she currently leads all active NCAA Division I hitters.
153 The Minnesota offense has heated up winning 19 of their last 20 games. 24 home runs, 34 doubles, six triples and 125 singles later the Gophers are outscoring the opposition 153-21 during the stretch.
30 Going 4-for-11 at the Big Ten Tournament, including two walks, Kendyl Lindaman has extended her on-base streak to a career-best 30 games.
REGIONAL OUTLOOK
The Seattle Regional is hosted by the No. 5 overall seed Washington. Minnesota enters as the No. 2 seed in the Regional while Texas comes in at No. 3 and Boise State at No. 4. With three top-40 RPI teams, Minnesota (23), Washington (6) and Texas (36), the Seattle Regional ranks as the second toughest based on average RPI. The Columbia regional hosted by South Carolina ranks as the toughest with a 28.25 average RPI. Both Washington and Minnesota enter in as top-25 teams as the Gophers returned to the poll for the first time since week four. The winner of the Seattle Regional will face the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional hosted by No. 12 Alabama.
Saturday, May 30
Saturday, May 02
Tuesday, April 21
Sunday, April 05