Gophers Bounce Back in Second Game, Salvage Saturday Split

Upcoming Events

Schedule

No upcoming events at this time

MINNEAPOLIS - MaKenna Partain and Natalie DenHartog combined for eight hits in a doubleheader split against Iowa on Saturday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. No. 24 Minnesota bounced back in game two after its 13-game win streak against Iowa was snapped in game one on Saturday.

Minnesota (24-7) picked up its Big Ten leading eighth home victory with a 5-4 win in game two. Game one saw Iowa (16-15) earn a 3-1 victory, its first against the Gophers since May 8, 2015.

Game One
The Hawkeyes used a two-run rally late in game one to start the doubleheader off with a 3-1 victory. Iowa senior Lauren Shaw improved to 5-2 on the season as she held the Gophers potent offense to just one run on five hits in a complete game.

Partain and DenHartog provided a majority of the Minnesota offense as they each tallied two hits. Autumn Pease got the start for the Maroon and Gold and held the Hawkeyes to one run on four hits over 4.2 innings of work. Iowa scored the deciding two runs off of sophomore Ava Dueck in the top of the 7th to break the 1-1 tie.

Game Two
Iowa used its momentum from the first game to start the second, as Denali Loecker hit a three-run homer in the top of the first. The Gophers responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by DenHartog. The junior from Hopkins, Minn., added to her stellar offensive day with an RBI double in the bottom of the third to cut the Hawkeye lead to one. Sara Kinch plated her with an RBI single to tie the game 3-3.

With runners on first and second, Ellee Jensen laid down a bunt toward third base which resulted in a throwing error. The Gophers kept on running and scored both baserunners to grab a 5-3 lead.

Amber Fiser settled down after the early home run and cruised until the Hawkeyes scored one run and loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh inning. Fiser then slammed the door and got a game ending ground ball to third base. Fiser's threw 135 pitches in a complete game victory, which was her 12th of the season.

Noteworthy
Minnesota earned its Big Ten leading 24th victory of the season. DenHartog and Partain combined for eight of Minnesota's 15 hits on Saturday and Partain improved her team-best batting average to .350.

Up Next
The Gophers conclude this weekend's series with Iowa at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 25.

Follow Minnesota Softball

Don't miss any of the action from the field. Stay connected to Gopher Softball!

Support Minnesota Softball

Support the University of Minnesota Softball program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now

Upcoming Events