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Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Preview: Northwestern
5/1/2019 4:21:00 PM | Softball
The No. 13/8 University of Minnesota Gophers have a lot on the line this weekend when No. 19/14 Northwestern comes into Jane Sage Cowles Stadium for the regular season finale.
Northwestern is undefeated in conference play and sit in first place while Michigan is second at 19-1 and Minnesota is third at 18-1 after losing a conference game due to weather this year. The Gophers could take the regular season title with a sweep over Northwestern and a Michigan loss to Maryland. All three games are expected to have huge crowds with limited standing room only spots left for Saturday and Sunday. Friday can be streamed on BTN Plus at 6 p.m., Saturday will be on ESPNU at 3 p.m. and Sunday will be on Big Ten Network at 3 p.m.
The Gophers are 37-10 overall and are riding an 11-game winning streak. They are No. 10 in the NCAA RPI while Northwestern sits at No. 11 making this a big series for postseason implications as well. Minnesota is 8-0 at home this season. They have made a habit of striking first this season outscoring opponents 82-22 in the first two innings this season.
Minnesota has a balanced attack. They lead the Big Ten with a 1.79 ERA, are second in home runs per game at 1.26 and are second in fielding percentage at .976. The fielding percentage mark is ninth in the country and if the season ended today would break the school record for best fielding percentage in team history.
The Gophers have won a Big Ten weekly award in 10 out of 12 possible weeks including in nine straight weeks. Amber Fiser has earned five Pitcher of the Week honors this year including three in a row and Natalie DenHartog has now been named Freshman of the Week three times.
Fiser is 23-6 this season with a 1.32 ERA and 256 strikeouts and is a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist. She has yet to lose in conference with a 12-0 Big Ten record. She has 131 strikeouts and a 1.38 ERA against Big Ten foes. Sydney Smith has remained a steady No. 2 option in the circle for Minnesota. She is 12-4 with a 2.48 ERA.
DenHartog currently leads the entire conference with 57 RBIs on the year. She is hitting .404 on the season with 15 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs with a .875 slugging percentage. She is a top-25 finalist for the Collegiate Freshman of the Year.
MaKenna Partain is chasing history. She has 58 runs this season which is tied for third most all-time in program history. One more run will tie her for second in school history and seven more will tie her for first. Rachel Nelson notched 65 runs in the 1996 season. Partain is one of the least talked about stars in the entire country. She is leading the team with a .409 average and has 15 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 13 stolen bases this season.
Quick Hitters: The Gophers will celebrate seniors Allie Arneson, Taylor Chell, Maddie Houlihan and Sydney Smith this weekend. Houlihan has started all 223 possible games for the Gophers in her career. Ace Amber Fiser has a first degree black belt in Taekwondo. Utility Carlie Brandt has played seven positions in her collegiate career: two outfield spots, first base, second base, shortstop, DP and pitcher. The Gophers are a perfect 13-0 on Sundays this season. The No. 8 ranking in the USA Softball poll is the Gophers highest ranking in either major poll all season.
Northwestern is undefeated in conference play and sit in first place while Michigan is second at 19-1 and Minnesota is third at 18-1 after losing a conference game due to weather this year. The Gophers could take the regular season title with a sweep over Northwestern and a Michigan loss to Maryland. All three games are expected to have huge crowds with limited standing room only spots left for Saturday and Sunday. Friday can be streamed on BTN Plus at 6 p.m., Saturday will be on ESPNU at 3 p.m. and Sunday will be on Big Ten Network at 3 p.m.
The Gophers are 37-10 overall and are riding an 11-game winning streak. They are No. 10 in the NCAA RPI while Northwestern sits at No. 11 making this a big series for postseason implications as well. Minnesota is 8-0 at home this season. They have made a habit of striking first this season outscoring opponents 82-22 in the first two innings this season.
Minnesota has a balanced attack. They lead the Big Ten with a 1.79 ERA, are second in home runs per game at 1.26 and are second in fielding percentage at .976. The fielding percentage mark is ninth in the country and if the season ended today would break the school record for best fielding percentage in team history.
The Gophers have won a Big Ten weekly award in 10 out of 12 possible weeks including in nine straight weeks. Amber Fiser has earned five Pitcher of the Week honors this year including three in a row and Natalie DenHartog has now been named Freshman of the Week three times.
Fiser is 23-6 this season with a 1.32 ERA and 256 strikeouts and is a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top-25 Finalist. She has yet to lose in conference with a 12-0 Big Ten record. She has 131 strikeouts and a 1.38 ERA against Big Ten foes. Sydney Smith has remained a steady No. 2 option in the circle for Minnesota. She is 12-4 with a 2.48 ERA.
DenHartog currently leads the entire conference with 57 RBIs on the year. She is hitting .404 on the season with 15 doubles, two triples and 15 home runs with a .875 slugging percentage. She is a top-25 finalist for the Collegiate Freshman of the Year.
MaKenna Partain is chasing history. She has 58 runs this season which is tied for third most all-time in program history. One more run will tie her for second in school history and seven more will tie her for first. Rachel Nelson notched 65 runs in the 1996 season. Partain is one of the least talked about stars in the entire country. She is leading the team with a .409 average and has 15 doubles, four triples, four home runs and 13 stolen bases this season.
Quick Hitters: The Gophers will celebrate seniors Allie Arneson, Taylor Chell, Maddie Houlihan and Sydney Smith this weekend. Houlihan has started all 223 possible games for the Gophers in her career. Ace Amber Fiser has a first degree black belt in Taekwondo. Utility Carlie Brandt has played seven positions in her collegiate career: two outfield spots, first base, second base, shortstop, DP and pitcher. The Gophers are a perfect 13-0 on Sundays this season. The No. 8 ranking in the USA Softball poll is the Gophers highest ranking in either major poll all season.
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