University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 8
Austin, TX
1:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Texas Southern
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Photo by: Mike Janes
Preview: Longhorn Invitational
3/6/2019 3:25:00 PM | Softball
Life on the road doesn't get any easier for the No. 22/RV University of Minnesota Gophers this week as they head to Austin, Texas for the Longhorn Invitational that includes three meetings with No. 9/10 Texas.Â
The Gophers have already had four top-10 matchups so far this season and have played six ranked teams in all. Last time out Minnesota topped (No. 19/19, at the time) James Madison 5-1 for their first ranked win of the season. The Gophers have faced No. 1/1 Florida State, No. 5/5 Alabama twice, No. 7/7 Tennessee and No. 12/13 Arizona. Every game this weekend will be available on the Longhorn Network.Â
The Gophers returned their entire pitching staff from a season ago and have used all five so far in the 2019 season. Amber Fiser earned preseason All-American nods and has been strong despite taking on the top teams in the country week after week. She tossed three complete game victories while only allowing one earned run with 37 strikeouts last weekend. She was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, the FastPitchNews National Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of Week for her performance. She is 7-4 with a 1.33 ERA and 96 strikeouts already this season. Her 96 strikeouts rank No. 4 in the NCAA. Sydney Smith is 3-2 on the season with a 3.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts. Rachel Lowary has 13 strikeouts in just 7.2 innings of work and has not allowed a run. Hannah Bailey and Carlie Brandt have each provided six innings of work in the circle so far this season.Â
Minnesota has attacked early and often this season. They have scored first in 13 games this season and have put runs on the board in the first inning in eight games already. James Madison was the first comeback win of the season for the Gophers. They trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth before senior Maddie Houlihan launched a home run to tie things up. The Maroon and Gold have counted on the long ball all season with 21 home runs on the year. Hope Brandner has led the way with six home runs and freshman Natalie DenHartog has four. Thirteen home runs have come from players that never had a collegiate home run before this season. Through 17 games last year, Minnesota only had 13 home runs. Against Kent State, the Gophers hit a program record six home runs in a single game.Â
The Gophers rank first in the Big Ten and No. 10 in the NCAA with a .980 fielding percentage. Head coach Jamie Trachsel is approaching a milestone with 296 career wins.Â
ABOUT NO. 9/10 TEXAS
The Longhorns are 16-3 heading into the fifth week of the season. The Longhorn Invitational will be the third tournament Texas has hosted this season. Texas is 2-2 against ranked teams. Their most recent win over a ranked team came when they defeated No. 15/17 at the time Arizona State (11-4) at the Sun Devil Classic. Freshman right-hander Shealyn O'Leary leads the Big 12 in ERA (1.48) and has struck out 26 batters in 31.2 innings. Junior transfer Miranda Elish has also been a staple on the Longhorn pitching staff. The right-hander from Oregon has pitched 41.2 innings with 63 strikeouts  and a 1.85 ERA. Elish is also batting .341 with 10 runs, 15 RBIs and two home runs. *The Longhorns play Longwood University on Wednesday for a doubleheader.Â
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN
Texas Southern is 1-12 after five weeks of play. Their only win of the season was over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Senior Catcher, Marissa Pardon, is leading the team at the plate. Pardon is batting .333 with one run, nine hits and five RBIs. In the circle, right-hander Chelsea Baxter is leading the team in innings pitched with 22.1. The sophomore has posted a 3.76 ERA with 16 strikeouts. *Before heading to the Longhorn Invitational, the Tigers will face Incarnate Word for a doubleheader on Wednesday.Â
Â
The Gophers have already had four top-10 matchups so far this season and have played six ranked teams in all. Last time out Minnesota topped (No. 19/19, at the time) James Madison 5-1 for their first ranked win of the season. The Gophers have faced No. 1/1 Florida State, No. 5/5 Alabama twice, No. 7/7 Tennessee and No. 12/13 Arizona. Every game this weekend will be available on the Longhorn Network.Â
The Gophers returned their entire pitching staff from a season ago and have used all five so far in the 2019 season. Amber Fiser earned preseason All-American nods and has been strong despite taking on the top teams in the country week after week. She tossed three complete game victories while only allowing one earned run with 37 strikeouts last weekend. She was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, the FastPitchNews National Player of the Week and Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of Week for her performance. She is 7-4 with a 1.33 ERA and 96 strikeouts already this season. Her 96 strikeouts rank No. 4 in the NCAA. Sydney Smith is 3-2 on the season with a 3.35 ERA and 19 strikeouts. Rachel Lowary has 13 strikeouts in just 7.2 innings of work and has not allowed a run. Hannah Bailey and Carlie Brandt have each provided six innings of work in the circle so far this season.Â
Minnesota has attacked early and often this season. They have scored first in 13 games this season and have put runs on the board in the first inning in eight games already. James Madison was the first comeback win of the season for the Gophers. They trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the fourth before senior Maddie Houlihan launched a home run to tie things up. The Maroon and Gold have counted on the long ball all season with 21 home runs on the year. Hope Brandner has led the way with six home runs and freshman Natalie DenHartog has four. Thirteen home runs have come from players that never had a collegiate home run before this season. Through 17 games last year, Minnesota only had 13 home runs. Against Kent State, the Gophers hit a program record six home runs in a single game.Â
The Gophers rank first in the Big Ten and No. 10 in the NCAA with a .980 fielding percentage. Head coach Jamie Trachsel is approaching a milestone with 296 career wins.Â
ABOUT NO. 9/10 TEXAS
The Longhorns are 16-3 heading into the fifth week of the season. The Longhorn Invitational will be the third tournament Texas has hosted this season. Texas is 2-2 against ranked teams. Their most recent win over a ranked team came when they defeated No. 15/17 at the time Arizona State (11-4) at the Sun Devil Classic. Freshman right-hander Shealyn O'Leary leads the Big 12 in ERA (1.48) and has struck out 26 batters in 31.2 innings. Junior transfer Miranda Elish has also been a staple on the Longhorn pitching staff. The right-hander from Oregon has pitched 41.2 innings with 63 strikeouts  and a 1.85 ERA. Elish is also batting .341 with 10 runs, 15 RBIs and two home runs. *The Longhorns play Longwood University on Wednesday for a doubleheader.Â
ABOUT TEXAS SOUTHERN
Texas Southern is 1-12 after five weeks of play. Their only win of the season was over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Senior Catcher, Marissa Pardon, is leading the team at the plate. Pardon is batting .333 with one run, nine hits and five RBIs. In the circle, right-hander Chelsea Baxter is leading the team in innings pitched with 22.1. The sophomore has posted a 3.76 ERA with 16 strikeouts. *Before heading to the Longhorn Invitational, the Tigers will face Incarnate Word for a doubleheader on Wednesday.Â
Â
Minnesota (4) - Michigan (0) Highlights
Friday, May 02
Sydney Schwartz Throws No-Hitter
Tuesday, April 29
Gophers (8) - North Dakota (0) Highlights
Sunday, April 27
Gophers (5) - North Dakota (3) Highlights
Saturday, April 26