University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
25-9
Michigan
31-5
Minnesota Drops Afternoon Doubleheader to Michigan
5/8/2021 7:33:00 PM | Softball
Gophers play final home game of the season at 2 p.m. on Sunday on BTN
Minnesota is now 25-10 on the season, while Michigan improved to 32-5 and won the Big Ten Championship after taking the second game of the day.
The teams complete their four-game series at 2 p.m. on Sunday, which will also be Minnesota's final home game the season. The Gophers head to Penn State for a four-game series on May 14-16 before the NCAA tournament field is announced on Sunday, May 16.
Game 1
Michigan got to Amber Fiser (12-7) early, as it built a 5-0 lead after four innings to chase Minnesota's All-American from the circle.
Fiser was replaced by Ava Dueck, but the Wolverine bats stayed lively as Michigan scored five more runs in the top of the sixth inning to build a 10-0 lead.
Minnesota got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, as it scored four runs to cut the score to 10-4.
Alex Storako was impressive for Michigan as she struck out nine in five innings to improve to 19-2 on the season. Sarah Schaefer pitched the sixth for Michigan and Meghan Beaubien pitched the seventh as Michigan won 10-4.
Emily Hansen had two of Minnesota's six hits, while MaKenna Partain, Katelyn Kemmetmueller and Carlie Brandt each had an RBI for the Gophers.
Game 2
Minnesota jumped out to 1-0 lead – its first of the series – in the bottom of the second inning.
Chloe Evans drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a Sara Kinch single to left. Evans wound up on third base after an Emily Hansen sacrifice bunt and she then scored on a fielder's choice to third base.
The Wolverines leveled the score 1-1 in the top of third when Taylor Bump drew a two-out walk off of Autumn Pease (11-2) and then scored when Hannah Carson doubled to left field.
The score remained tied until the sixth inning when Michigan plated two more runs after loading the bases with no outs to push the lead to 3-1.
Minnesota went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and stranded a lead-off runner in the bottom of the seventh as the Wolverines clinched the Big Ten Championship.
Pease allowed three runs and eight hits, as she struck out five and walked three.
Minnesota's three hits came off the bats of Hansen, Kinch and Ellee Jensen.
Meghan Beaubien pitched a complete game for Michigan as she improved to 13-3 after striking out nine.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Storako, Alex (19-2)
L: Fiser, Amber (12-7)
Batting:
2B: Rodriguez, Natalia 1
3B: Hoogenraad, Haley 1
HR: Jimenez, Julia 1
RBI: Allan, Lou 2 ; Jimenez, Julia 4 ; Tholl, Keke 2 ; Hoogenraad, Haley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Blair, Lexie 1 ; Rodriguez, Natalia 2 ; Allan, Lou 2 ; Carson, Hannah 2 ; Jimenez, Julia 2 ; Tholl, Keke 1
SB: Hoogenraad, Haley 1
HBP: Allan, Lou 1 ; Bump, Taylor 1
Batting:
3B: Kemmetmueller, Katelyn 1
RBI: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Kemmetmueller, Katelyn 1 ; Brandt, Carlie 1
SF: Partain, MaKenna 1 ; Kemmetmueller, Katelyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Denson, MacKenzie 1 ; Hollifield, Ansleigh 1 ; Jones, Kianna 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1
HBP: Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Brandt, Carlie 1
