University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 26
Charlotte, NC
9:00 AM
University of Minnesota
9-5
3
vs
0
Northern Iowa
2-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Minnesota
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
UNI
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Leavitt's Shutout Highlights Day Two in Charlotte
2/26/2022 3:00:00 PM | Softball
CHARLOTTE - Emily Leavitt's three-hit shutout of UNI helped the Gophers softball team to a 3-0 win before dropping a 4-0 contest to Wichita State Saturday during the Niner Invitational at Daughtridge Stadium.
Game One
Behind a dominant performance in the circle from Leavitt, Minnesota (9-5 overall) got right back to its winning ways after its five-game win streak was snapped Friday night. The freshman struck out a season-high nine batters and allowed just four Panthers to reach base all morning for her first collegiate shutout.
After both teams went down in order for two innings, a one-out walk to Gophers freshman Kayla Chavez was the game's first base runner. MacKenzie Denson followed on an infield single as the offense started to build momentum in the third inning. Lauren Espalin put Minnesota in front, driving a RBI double off the wall in right center plating Chavez for the 1-0 advantage. Two more runs scored as Makenna Dowell reached on a UNI error extending the margin.
Leavitt cruised through the Panthers order and retired the first 10 batters faced, striking out five before a one-out bloop single in the fourth was the first player to reach base. UNI added a walk and infield single before Leavitt pitched out of the bases-loaded jam forcing a foul pop up to catcher Sara Kinch preserving the 3-0 lead.
The pitchers on each side continued to find a groove as the bats were quiet until a two-out single by Chloe Evans was the first Minnesota hit since the third frame. The Gophers carried their three-run lead into the final frame where Leavitt and her defense sealed the victory, 3-0.
Game Two
It was the defense that gave Minnesota a chance, keeping within striking distance of Wichita State, a team receiving votes in the national polls, until late. The offense put runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings but could not scratch across any runs in the loss.
A solo home run with one out in the top of the first gave the Shockers the early advantage. The Gophers looked for the equalizer in the second as Natalie DenHartog drew a one-out walk and Kinch added an infield single to third. Minnesota was unable to break through as WSU ended the chance.
A home run robbing catch in left by Ellee Jensen closed the top of the third as the Gophers defense continued their impressive display on the field. That trend carried into the next inning as Sydney Strelow made a play with two on base flipping to Dowell for the third out keeping the deficit at just one.
Dowell used that momentum, ripping a lead-off double down the line in right and moved to third on a groundout. Minnesota failed to capitalize on the opportunity as the tying run was stranded 60 feet from home plate. After the Shockers loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, the defense stood tall and used an inning-ending double play as Dowell and Strelow combined again to keep WSU off the board.
Chavez lined a two-out double in the bottom of the fifth, but was left in scoring position. The Shockers pushed the lead to 2-0 in the sixth behind a lead-off double that scored on a flare to left. Minnesota had the potential go-ahead run at the plate after two reached later that inning only for both to be left where they were. WSU added two unearned runs in the seventh and closed out the 4-0 win despite the Gophers putting two on base in the bottom of the frame.
Autumn Pease was charged with the loss allowing one run in four innings and struck out four.
Up Next
Minnesota plays the Shockers one more time Sunday morning to cap the weekend in Charlotte with first pitch slated for 9 a.m. (CT) with rain in the forecast. Follow the Gophers social media channels for any schedule adjustments.
Game One
Behind a dominant performance in the circle from Leavitt, Minnesota (9-5 overall) got right back to its winning ways after its five-game win streak was snapped Friday night. The freshman struck out a season-high nine batters and allowed just four Panthers to reach base all morning for her first collegiate shutout.
After both teams went down in order for two innings, a one-out walk to Gophers freshman Kayla Chavez was the game's first base runner. MacKenzie Denson followed on an infield single as the offense started to build momentum in the third inning. Lauren Espalin put Minnesota in front, driving a RBI double off the wall in right center plating Chavez for the 1-0 advantage. Two more runs scored as Makenna Dowell reached on a UNI error extending the margin.
Leavitt cruised through the Panthers order and retired the first 10 batters faced, striking out five before a one-out bloop single in the fourth was the first player to reach base. UNI added a walk and infield single before Leavitt pitched out of the bases-loaded jam forcing a foul pop up to catcher Sara Kinch preserving the 3-0 lead.
The pitchers on each side continued to find a groove as the bats were quiet until a two-out single by Chloe Evans was the first Minnesota hit since the third frame. The Gophers carried their three-run lead into the final frame where Leavitt and her defense sealed the victory, 3-0.
Game Two
It was the defense that gave Minnesota a chance, keeping within striking distance of Wichita State, a team receiving votes in the national polls, until late. The offense put runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings but could not scratch across any runs in the loss.
A solo home run with one out in the top of the first gave the Shockers the early advantage. The Gophers looked for the equalizer in the second as Natalie DenHartog drew a one-out walk and Kinch added an infield single to third. Minnesota was unable to break through as WSU ended the chance.
A home run robbing catch in left by Ellee Jensen closed the top of the third as the Gophers defense continued their impressive display on the field. That trend carried into the next inning as Sydney Strelow made a play with two on base flipping to Dowell for the third out keeping the deficit at just one.
Dowell used that momentum, ripping a lead-off double down the line in right and moved to third on a groundout. Minnesota failed to capitalize on the opportunity as the tying run was stranded 60 feet from home plate. After the Shockers loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, the defense stood tall and used an inning-ending double play as Dowell and Strelow combined again to keep WSU off the board.
Chavez lined a two-out double in the bottom of the fifth, but was left in scoring position. The Shockers pushed the lead to 2-0 in the sixth behind a lead-off double that scored on a flare to left. Minnesota had the potential go-ahead run at the plate after two reached later that inning only for both to be left where they were. WSU added two unearned runs in the seventh and closed out the 4-0 win despite the Gophers putting two on base in the bottom of the frame.
Autumn Pease was charged with the loss allowing one run in four innings and struck out four.
Up Next
Minnesota plays the Shockers one more time Sunday morning to cap the weekend in Charlotte with first pitch slated for 9 a.m. (CT) with rain in the forecast. Follow the Gophers social media channels for any schedule adjustments.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leavitt, Emily (6-3)
L: Kailyn Packard (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Espalin, Lauren 1
RBI: Espalin, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 1 ; Denson, MacKenzie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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