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Gophers Start Season Ranked for Fifth Straight Season
1/29/2019 2:06:00 PM | Softball
NFCA Coaches Poll // USA Softball Poll
The University of Minnesota softball team enters the season ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top-25 poll for the fifth straight season coming in at No. 21. They are also ranked in the ESPN/USA Softball Top-25 with a No. 23 ranking.
Last season, Minnesota finished with a No. 21 ranking in the NFCA poll and a No. 17 ranking in the USA Softball poll.
The Gophers are just 10 days away from the 2019 season. They will open in Orlando, Fla., against the University of North Florida and will take on 10 teams in the preseason top-25 Coaches Poll including six in the top-10 this season.
In 2018 the Gophers took home the Big Ten Tournament title for the third consecutive season and made their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with a 41-17 record. The Gophers also added on to a 32-game home winning streak at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium which is the longest home winning streak in program history.
The Gophers were strong in the circle behind the arms of Amber Fiser, Sydney Smith, Carlie Brandt, Hannah Bailey and Rachel Lowary. The pitching staff recorded a 1.90 ERA which was the second lowest in the Big Ten and 14th lowest in the NCAA. The entire staff returns for the 2019 season.
At the plate, Minnesota held the fourth best average in the conference with a .289 mark. Scoring 5.69 runs/game the Gophers ranked third in the Big Ten and 26th in the NCAA. Returning to that core is past All-Region honorees Maddie Houlihan, MaKenna Partain and Ellee Jensen. Oregon State transfer Hope Brandner is also expected to bring power to the lineup this season.
The University of Minnesota softball team enters the season ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top-25 poll for the fifth straight season coming in at No. 21. They are also ranked in the ESPN/USA Softball Top-25 with a No. 23 ranking.
Last season, Minnesota finished with a No. 21 ranking in the NFCA poll and a No. 17 ranking in the USA Softball poll.
The Gophers are just 10 days away from the 2019 season. They will open in Orlando, Fla., against the University of North Florida and will take on 10 teams in the preseason top-25 Coaches Poll including six in the top-10 this season.
In 2018 the Gophers took home the Big Ten Tournament title for the third consecutive season and made their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance with a 41-17 record. The Gophers also added on to a 32-game home winning streak at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium which is the longest home winning streak in program history.
The Gophers were strong in the circle behind the arms of Amber Fiser, Sydney Smith, Carlie Brandt, Hannah Bailey and Rachel Lowary. The pitching staff recorded a 1.90 ERA which was the second lowest in the Big Ten and 14th lowest in the NCAA. The entire staff returns for the 2019 season.
At the plate, Minnesota held the fourth best average in the conference with a .289 mark. Scoring 5.69 runs/game the Gophers ranked third in the Big Ten and 26th in the NCAA. Returning to that core is past All-Region honorees Maddie Houlihan, MaKenna Partain and Ellee Jensen. Oregon State transfer Hope Brandner is also expected to bring power to the lineup this season.
Highlights: Gophers 6, Central Michigan 1
Saturday, February 21
Highlights: Gophers 7, LIU 6
Saturday, February 21
Highlights: Gophers 11, NMSU 4
Saturday, February 14
Highlights: Gophers 8, UTEP 6
Friday, February 13