University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 22
College Park, MD
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
6
at
5
Maryland
Photo by: Mike Janes
Houlihan Lifts Gophers to Comeback Victory
3/22/2019 10:06:00 PM | Softball
College Park, MD. - Maddie Houlihan launched a sixth inning grand slam as the No. 20/19 University of Minnesota Gophers came back to top Maryland 6-5 in tonight's Big Ten conference opener.
The Gophers found themselves in a 3-0 hole after the first inning on a brisk, rainy evening in College Park but clawed back to start Big Ten play 1-0 and improve to 20-9 overall on the season.
"We just tried to keep the energy up," Houlihan said. "We just kept trying to chip away each inning and find ways to score runs. Obviously it wasn't pretty but we found a way to get the win in the end."
The Terps got in the board in the first by way of an RBI-triple and a two-RBI double.
The Gophers scraped a run across in the third inning. MaKenna Partain laid down a sneaky bunt and was brought home by a Houlihan double to the gap in left.
The Maroon and Gold put the heat on in the fifth inning. Once again Partain led off the frame by getting on base, this time on a walk. Houlihan followed with a single and Hope Brandner punched one across with a single to third. A Natalie DenHartog groundout gave Minnesota runners at second and third with just one out, but Maryland escaped the frame with a 3-2 lead.
The Terps responded with a score in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-2 after five. Amber Fiser got the start in the circle for Minnesota and went five innings. She allowed four hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts.
Josey White led off the sixth inning with a single to shortstop. Carlie Brandt came in to run for her and moved to second on a groundout. Taylor Chell came in to pinch hit and took a pitch right off the elbow and Partain drew a walk to load the bases.
Houlihan stepped up to the plate next and launched a grand slam over the wall in center to make it 6-4 Gophers. It was Houlihan's second home run of the season. Her other home run came in the only other comeback victory of the season for Minnesota when she tied up the game against James Madison.
"I was just trying to hit a good pitch, put a ball in play and find a way to score a run," Houlihan said. "The ball just kept carrying and it was awesome to help the team win. This team can learn a lot from a game like tonight and I think we will be well prepared tomorrow."
Sydney Smith stepped into the circle in the sixth inning. She fired in three strikeouts but the Terps pulled within one with the help on an error and an RBI-single.
The Terps put runners on first and second with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the seventh but Smith induced a groundout right back to the pitcher to end the game. She nabbed her second save of the season. Fiser picked up the victory and moves to 12-6 on the season.
Houlihan tied her career with five RBIs in the win. She was 3-4 at the plate with a double and a home run. Partain went 2-2, drew two walks and scored three runs.
The Gophers will take on the Terps again tomorrow with first pitch set for 1 p.m. CT.
The Gophers found themselves in a 3-0 hole after the first inning on a brisk, rainy evening in College Park but clawed back to start Big Ten play 1-0 and improve to 20-9 overall on the season.
"We just tried to keep the energy up," Houlihan said. "We just kept trying to chip away each inning and find ways to score runs. Obviously it wasn't pretty but we found a way to get the win in the end."
The Terps got in the board in the first by way of an RBI-triple and a two-RBI double.
The Gophers scraped a run across in the third inning. MaKenna Partain laid down a sneaky bunt and was brought home by a Houlihan double to the gap in left.
The Maroon and Gold put the heat on in the fifth inning. Once again Partain led off the frame by getting on base, this time on a walk. Houlihan followed with a single and Hope Brandner punched one across with a single to third. A Natalie DenHartog groundout gave Minnesota runners at second and third with just one out, but Maryland escaped the frame with a 3-2 lead.
The Terps responded with a score in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-2 after five. Amber Fiser got the start in the circle for Minnesota and went five innings. She allowed four hits and three earned runs with six strikeouts.
Josey White led off the sixth inning with a single to shortstop. Carlie Brandt came in to run for her and moved to second on a groundout. Taylor Chell came in to pinch hit and took a pitch right off the elbow and Partain drew a walk to load the bases.
Houlihan stepped up to the plate next and launched a grand slam over the wall in center to make it 6-4 Gophers. It was Houlihan's second home run of the season. Her other home run came in the only other comeback victory of the season for Minnesota when she tied up the game against James Madison.
"I was just trying to hit a good pitch, put a ball in play and find a way to score a run," Houlihan said. "The ball just kept carrying and it was awesome to help the team win. This team can learn a lot from a game like tonight and I think we will be well prepared tomorrow."
Sydney Smith stepped into the circle in the sixth inning. She fired in three strikeouts but the Terps pulled within one with the help on an error and an RBI-single.
The Terps put runners on first and second with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the seventh but Smith induced a groundout right back to the pitcher to end the game. She nabbed her second save of the season. Fiser picked up the victory and moves to 12-6 on the season.
Houlihan tied her career with five RBIs in the win. She was 3-4 at the plate with a double and a home run. Partain went 2-2, drew two walks and scored three runs.
The Gophers will take on the Terps again tomorrow with first pitch set for 1 p.m. CT.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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