University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, May 7
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan
Players Mentioned
UT
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers and Wolverines Ready to Battle at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
5/5/2021 10:55:00 AM | Softball
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
• After a week hiatus, No. 23 Minnesota closes out the home season against No. 19 Michigan, May 7-9, at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The weekend format is a single game on Friday, doubleheader on Saturday and a single game scheduled Sunday. All four games will be televised on Big Ten Network this weekend.
• Minnesota's series against Wisconsin was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns with the Badger program. Due to schedule conflicts, the series will not be made up with only two weeks remaining in the regular season.
• Prior to the off weekend, Minnesota earned its fifth four-game series win of the season, this time against Iowa, April 23-25 at Jane Sage. MaKenna Partain led the Gophers when she hit .462 in the series, including the series finale when she belted two home runs. Sara Kinch followed when she hit .400, while Natalie DenHartog hit .357. Both Amber Fiser and Autumn Pease pitched in two games. Fiser went 2-0, while Pease went 1-0.
• The Gopher pitching corps holds a 1.83 ERA this season, which ranks 15th nationally. Autumn Pease holds a 1.45 ERA with 85 strikeouts to just 15 walks and a 11-1 record in 92 innings this year. She also ranks 43rd nationally in lowest ERA. Amber Fiser holds a 1.97 ERA, 11-5 record and 106 strikeouts to 34 walks in 121 innings pitched this season.
• Minnesota's 36 home runs ranks first in the Big Ten, with Nebraska at 31 this year and Michigan with 28. In fact, Minnesota averages 1.12 home runs per game, which ranks 42nd nationally. Natalie DenHartog is tied for first in the league with 10 home runs, while Sara Kinch has six and MaKenna Partain and Katelyn Kemmetmueller each have five.
ABOUT MICHIGAN AND THE SERIES
• The last time the Golden Gophers faced the Michigan Wolverines dates back to the 2019 Big Ten Tournament Championship game when the Wolverines earned a 3-2 decision for the tournament trophy. The Gophers blanked No. 2 seed Northwestern in the semifinals, 4-0, to advance to their fourth straight Big Ten Tournament championship game but fell just short in a comeback effort against No. 1 seed Michigan, 3-2. It was the lone appearance against the Wolverines that season. In fact, the last time Minnesota has faced Michigan in a series dates back to 2015 when the Wolverines won 2-of-3. Minnesota played one game against Michigan in 2016, also in the Big Ten tournament championship (4-3, 10-inning win).
• With no Big Ten Tournament this year, it's a battle between No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the league standings. Michigan leads the Big Ten with a 28-5 league record (84.8 win percentage), while the Golden Gophers are nipping at their heels at 25-7 (78.1 win percentage).
• The Wolverines have won their last seven contests and have a Wednesday game scheduled with Michigan State. Michigan holds the nation's best team pitching ERA at 1.08 as Alex Storako paves the way with a 0.64 ERA. She's followed by Meghan Beaubien, who has a 1.36 ERA. The Wolverines as a team are hitting .310, as Lexie Blair leads the team with a .411 batting average.
ON THE DOCKET
• After this weekend, Minnesota travels to Penn State for a four-game set, May 14-16. The Friday and second game Saturday will be on BTN, while the others will be streamed on BTN Plus.
• After a week hiatus, No. 23 Minnesota closes out the home season against No. 19 Michigan, May 7-9, at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The weekend format is a single game on Friday, doubleheader on Saturday and a single game scheduled Sunday. All four games will be televised on Big Ten Network this weekend.
• Minnesota's series against Wisconsin was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns with the Badger program. Due to schedule conflicts, the series will not be made up with only two weeks remaining in the regular season.
• Prior to the off weekend, Minnesota earned its fifth four-game series win of the season, this time against Iowa, April 23-25 at Jane Sage. MaKenna Partain led the Gophers when she hit .462 in the series, including the series finale when she belted two home runs. Sara Kinch followed when she hit .400, while Natalie DenHartog hit .357. Both Amber Fiser and Autumn Pease pitched in two games. Fiser went 2-0, while Pease went 1-0.
• The Gopher pitching corps holds a 1.83 ERA this season, which ranks 15th nationally. Autumn Pease holds a 1.45 ERA with 85 strikeouts to just 15 walks and a 11-1 record in 92 innings this year. She also ranks 43rd nationally in lowest ERA. Amber Fiser holds a 1.97 ERA, 11-5 record and 106 strikeouts to 34 walks in 121 innings pitched this season.
• Minnesota's 36 home runs ranks first in the Big Ten, with Nebraska at 31 this year and Michigan with 28. In fact, Minnesota averages 1.12 home runs per game, which ranks 42nd nationally. Natalie DenHartog is tied for first in the league with 10 home runs, while Sara Kinch has six and MaKenna Partain and Katelyn Kemmetmueller each have five.
ABOUT MICHIGAN AND THE SERIES
• The last time the Golden Gophers faced the Michigan Wolverines dates back to the 2019 Big Ten Tournament Championship game when the Wolverines earned a 3-2 decision for the tournament trophy. The Gophers blanked No. 2 seed Northwestern in the semifinals, 4-0, to advance to their fourth straight Big Ten Tournament championship game but fell just short in a comeback effort against No. 1 seed Michigan, 3-2. It was the lone appearance against the Wolverines that season. In fact, the last time Minnesota has faced Michigan in a series dates back to 2015 when the Wolverines won 2-of-3. Minnesota played one game against Michigan in 2016, also in the Big Ten tournament championship (4-3, 10-inning win).
• With no Big Ten Tournament this year, it's a battle between No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the league standings. Michigan leads the Big Ten with a 28-5 league record (84.8 win percentage), while the Golden Gophers are nipping at their heels at 25-7 (78.1 win percentage).
• The Wolverines have won their last seven contests and have a Wednesday game scheduled with Michigan State. Michigan holds the nation's best team pitching ERA at 1.08 as Alex Storako paves the way with a 0.64 ERA. She's followed by Meghan Beaubien, who has a 1.36 ERA. The Wolverines as a team are hitting .310, as Lexie Blair leads the team with a .411 batting average.
ON THE DOCKET
• After this weekend, Minnesota travels to Penn State for a four-game set, May 14-16. The Friday and second game Saturday will be on BTN, while the others will be streamed on BTN Plus.
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