University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
41-17
#5/5 Washington
47-8
Gophers Fall To Washington in Regional Final, 5-2.
5/20/2018 12:00:00 PM | Softball
"I was proud of how we came out and kept applying pressure today to give us a chance in the seventh inning," said head coach Jamie Trachsel. "It's the end of the career for our five seniors and I could not be prouder of everything that they have given this program."
Sunday marked the final game for seniors Ellie Cowger, Sydney Dwyer, Danielle Parlich, Erika Rozell and Dani Wagner. The group combined for four NCAA Regional berths, three Big Ten Tournament Championships and a Big Ten regular season championship.
Minnesota found its way on the scoreboard early as Ellee Jensen came into score after a ground ball off the bat of MaKenna Partain went right between the legs of the Huskie's second baseman and into right field.
Washington responded to their defensive troubles with some offensive wonders as the Huskies loaded up the bases on a walk and back-to-back singles. A fly ball to right field was deep enough to bring in the tying run before a fly out to left ceased further damage.
The two counterparts continued to challenge each other at the plate, seeing which offense could have that breakthrough inning.
Allie Arneson led off the fourth with a double that one hopped off the left field wall before she was replaced by pinch-runner Kaylen Krueger. A hard chopper by Jensen moved Krueger up 60 more feet while turning over the Minnesota lineup. Partain got the job done with a hard single back at the UW pitcher which scooted away off the glove giving Kruger enough time to score making it 2-1.
The host Huskies would not go down easily using the energy from their home crowd to string together a three-run fifth inning on starter Amber Fiser.
A leadoff single in the fifth came around to score and tie the game on a single up the middle. Washington regained the lead on a hard shot hit that bounced over the glove of a diving Parlich before the inning's third run came one batter later via a groundout.
The Gophers went to the pen in the sixth bringing in Sydney Smith who would toss two innings of relief work. UW added an unearned insurance run as a leadoff single came around to score after a groundout, fly out and a passed ball.
Minnesota was kept off the scoreboard the final three frames despite compiling a late seventh inning rally. Back at the top of the order, Partain sent a long single off the left field wall before being retired at second the next batter. Putting runners at first and second was Houlihan who extended the inning with a single through the left side. The late rally came up short as a ground out by Dwyer ended the game.
Fiser suffered the loss finishing the season with a 27-7 record in the circle. Fiser tossed five innings of work allowing one walk, four runs and striking out two.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Plain, Gabbie (19-4)
L: Fiser, Amber (27-7)
Batting:
2B: DePonte, Julia 1
RBI: Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; DePonte, Julia 2 ; Thomas, Kirstyn 1
SH: Bates, Sis 1 ; Burdick, Kelly 1
SF: DePonte, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Van Zee, Taylor 1 ; Bates, Sis 1 ; Milloy, Amirah 1 ; Melhart, Trysten 1 ; Burdick, Kelly 1
SB: Bates, Sis 1
Batting:
2B: Houlihan, Maddie 1 ; Arneson, Allie 1
RBI: Partain, MaKenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Krueger, Kaylen 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 1
SB: Jensen, Ellee 1
HBP: Wagner, Dani 1
