University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
46-14
Washington
51-8
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gabbie Plain (24-2)
L: Fiser, Amber (31-9)
S: Taran Alvelo (3)
Batting:
2B: Sami Reynolds 1 ; Amirah Milloy 1
HR: Morganne Flores 1
RBI: Sis Bates 1 ; Morganne Flores 1 ; Sami Reynolds 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sis Bates 1 ; Morganne Flores 1 ; Sami Reynolds 1 ; Madison Huskey 1 ; Megan Vandegrift 1
SB: Sis Bates 1
Batting:
2B: Brandt, Carlie 2
RBI: Brandt, Carlie 3
Base Running:
RUNS: DenHartog, Natalie 1 ; Burns, Emma 2
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Gophers End Season in OKC
6/1/2019 4:28:00 PM | Softball
The No. 7 University of Minnesota Gophers fell 5-3 to No. 3 seed Washington on Elimination Saturday of the Women's College World Series this afternoon.
The No. 7 seed University of Minnesota Gophers fell 5-3 to No. 3 seed Washington on Elimination Saturday of the Women's College World Series this afternoon. The Gophers finish a historic season 46-14 after competing in their first ever WCWS in the NCAA era.
"It's a pretty big stage when you do make a mistake or have an error. We're always hoping our kids can rebound and respond and be resilient," head coach Jamie Trachsel said. "I think they continued to fight offensively. We just gave up too many runs to too many good teams. That's hard to overcome."
Washington jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. They scored on a solo shot home run and a wild pitch.
Carlie Brandt cut the Washington lead in half from the nine spot in the bottom of the third with a deep RBI double to left to score Emma Burns.
Senior Sydney Smith came into the circle in a tough situation in the fourth inning. Washington had the bases loaded with a 3-1 lead when she stepped in and fired a strikeout to get the Gophers out of the jam. Smith pitched 3.1 innings with two runs, only three hits and one strikeout in her final performance.
"Minnesota softball is changing. We're competitive. We can compete with anyone in the country," senior Sydney Smith. "We've proved that this year. We're ending our season as the No. 7 team in the country. Not many programs can say that."
Going into the top of the sixth inning the game entered a three hour and nine minute weather delay due to lightning strikes in the area. Washington came out of the delay and added another pair of runs.
Down to their last out of the game the bottom of the order went to battle for the Gophers after Natalie DenHartog started the frame with a single through the left side. Senior Taylor Chell drew a pinch hit walk and Ali Lindner drew a walk to load the bases.
Brandt stepped up big time again and came through with a double that got away from a diving right fielder to make it 5-3. Brandt went 2-3 with all three RBIs. With a potential comeback on the line, Washington made a pitching change and halted the Gophers with a strikeout.
Fiser got the start in the circle and went 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one strikeout. She suffered the loss and closes out the season 31-9. Her 31 wins is tied for second most in program history in a single season.
The Gophers graduate Allie Arneson, Taylor Chell, Maddie Houlihan and Sydney Smith from this year's historic team.
"I'm just so proud. I think 'proud' is the only word I have that comes to mind right now," senior Maddie Houlihan said. "I'm proud to be a Gopher. Proud to finish my career alongside some pretty amazing people. With the staff we had this year, it was just an unbelievable year, unbelievable way to end a career."