University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 25
Charlotte, NC
11:30 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
Northern Iowa
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
Minnesota Heads to Charlotte for Niner Invitational Feb. 25-27
2/24/2022 2:15:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota softball team looks to extend its four-game win streak as it heads to Charlotte, N.C., for the Niner Invitational Feb. 25-27. The Gophers play host Charlotte once and have two games against both UNI and Wichita State scheduled over the course of the weekend.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
TOP CLASS
The senior class continues to power the Gophers offensively as it represents the top four hitters with averages above .300. Lauren Espalin and Ellee Jensen are both batting .400, while Natalie DenHartog is at .389 and Makenna Dowell has a .333 batting average. With the help of fellow seniors Megan Dray, Emily Hansen and Ali Lindner, the group has combined for 32 RBI, eight home runs, 22 walks and 10 of the team's 11 stolen bases.
DENHARTOG WATCH
DenHartog tied current assistant coach Katie Richardson (2012-15) and Kendyl Lindaman (2017-18) for fourth in program history with 40 career home runs hitting a solo blast at UCF Feb. 11 and added two more in Arizona. She needs one more long ball to match Tyler Walker (2012-15) and Shannon Beeler (1996-99) at 43. Jordanne Nygren (1999-2003) leads the all-time ranks for the Gophers hitting 51 career home runs. A senior from Hopkins, Minn., DenHartog is currently averaging one home run per 9.98 trips to the plate and has added 142 RBI across 139 games played.
EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF
The Gophers added two high-level graduate transfers from Power Five programs to the mix for 2022 as Dowell (Auburn) and Espalin (Cal) got to campus in the fall and are making an immediate impact on the lineup. Espalin is tied for the team lead posting a .400 batting average with three doubles, four RBI and six runs scored after a three-hit effort against her former team Feb. 20. Dowell paces Minnesota registering a .487 on-base percentage and come up with timely hits recording multiple RBI in five of her last seven games played aided by a .500 batting average with runners in scoring position.
POWER SURGE
Minnesota has launched 15 home runs in 11 games this season to sit 22nd in the NCAA in home runs per game. Six different players have hit a long ball helping the Gophers to a 7-2 record when hitting at least one home run and 25 of the team's 60 runs scored have come via a ball clearing the fence.
THE BOUNCE BACK
The Gophers have posted a 3-1 record in games following a loss this season showing their ability to rebound from a setback, including a 10-1 run-rule win over UTEP in the most recent opportunity.
LEADING OFF
Minnesota has recorded a .389 batting average (28-for-72) when leading off an inning. DenHartog is hitting .833 as the lead-off batter (5-for-6), while Espalin and Jensen also have five hits in that role.
GOT YOUR BACK
The Gophers pitching duo of Autumn Pease and Emily Leavitt are first and 19th in the NCAA in saves posting two and one, respectively. The pair has helped Minnesota to a perfect 4-0 record when holding a lead after five innings.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hits the road for a nine-day spring break trip between March 5-13 where it will face a pair of top 10 teams at the OSU-Tulsa Invitational before taking part in the Bevo Classic in Austin, Texas.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
TOP CLASS
The senior class continues to power the Gophers offensively as it represents the top four hitters with averages above .300. Lauren Espalin and Ellee Jensen are both batting .400, while Natalie DenHartog is at .389 and Makenna Dowell has a .333 batting average. With the help of fellow seniors Megan Dray, Emily Hansen and Ali Lindner, the group has combined for 32 RBI, eight home runs, 22 walks and 10 of the team's 11 stolen bases.
DENHARTOG WATCH
DenHartog tied current assistant coach Katie Richardson (2012-15) and Kendyl Lindaman (2017-18) for fourth in program history with 40 career home runs hitting a solo blast at UCF Feb. 11 and added two more in Arizona. She needs one more long ball to match Tyler Walker (2012-15) and Shannon Beeler (1996-99) at 43. Jordanne Nygren (1999-2003) leads the all-time ranks for the Gophers hitting 51 career home runs. A senior from Hopkins, Minn., DenHartog is currently averaging one home run per 9.98 trips to the plate and has added 142 RBI across 139 games played.
EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF
The Gophers added two high-level graduate transfers from Power Five programs to the mix for 2022 as Dowell (Auburn) and Espalin (Cal) got to campus in the fall and are making an immediate impact on the lineup. Espalin is tied for the team lead posting a .400 batting average with three doubles, four RBI and six runs scored after a three-hit effort against her former team Feb. 20. Dowell paces Minnesota registering a .487 on-base percentage and come up with timely hits recording multiple RBI in five of her last seven games played aided by a .500 batting average with runners in scoring position.
POWER SURGE
Minnesota has launched 15 home runs in 11 games this season to sit 22nd in the NCAA in home runs per game. Six different players have hit a long ball helping the Gophers to a 7-2 record when hitting at least one home run and 25 of the team's 60 runs scored have come via a ball clearing the fence.
THE BOUNCE BACK
The Gophers have posted a 3-1 record in games following a loss this season showing their ability to rebound from a setback, including a 10-1 run-rule win over UTEP in the most recent opportunity.
LEADING OFF
Minnesota has recorded a .389 batting average (28-for-72) when leading off an inning. DenHartog is hitting .833 as the lead-off batter (5-for-6), while Espalin and Jensen also have five hits in that role.
GOT YOUR BACK
The Gophers pitching duo of Autumn Pease and Emily Leavitt are first and 19th in the NCAA in saves posting two and one, respectively. The pair has helped Minnesota to a perfect 4-0 record when holding a lead after five innings.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hits the road for a nine-day spring break trip between March 5-13 where it will face a pair of top 10 teams at the OSU-Tulsa Invitational before taking part in the Bevo Classic in Austin, Texas.
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