University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, March 12
Austin, TX
12:30 PM
University of Minnesota
13-10
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Drake
5-12
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6
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Drake
0
0
0
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Minnesota
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8
7
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Gophers Tally Saturday Split in Austin
3/12/2022 8:30:00 PM | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas - Minnesota softball shutout Drake 8-0 in six innings before falling to host Texas 12-3 in five innings during the Bevo Classic Saturday at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
Natalie DenHartog tied the Gophers all-time home run record launching the 51st of her career during the opening game of the day, while Nani Valencia hit a solo home run off the Longhorns in her first collegiate at-bat.
Game One
Minnesota showcased a disciplined approach at the plate and earned 13 free bases, including 11 walks, on the way to an 8-0 victory over the Bulldogs in six innings. Autumn Pease cruised through the Drake lineup tossing a two-hit shutout.
The Gophers (13-11 overall) put at least two base runners on in each of the first two frames with two outs and were unable to convert their chances, including a bases-loaded threat in the second as the score remained scoreless. Minnesota finally broke through in the third as Natalie DenHartog crushed an 0-1 pitch high off the scoreboard in center field to take a 1-0 lead. It was the 51st home run of her career, tying Jordanne Nygren for the program's all-time record.
A two-out rally later in the third led to a pair of runs as Sara Kinch drew a walk and scored on a Drake error following Emily Hansen's single. The Gophers made it a 3-0 margin as Ellee Jensen reached on the third-straight free pass issued by the Bulldogs, this time a bases-loaded walk that brought Hansen home. DenHartog came around to score in the fourth as she started the inning hitting a single up the middle and promptly swiped second base. After taking third on a fly ball, the senior scored on Chloe Evans' sac fly to left and the lead stretched to 4-0.
Minnesota closed out the run-rule victory scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth without recording a hit as it capitalized on seven free bases, including four with the bases loaded. Kinch, Hansen, Costa and Jensen all recorded RBI walks for the Gophers securing the 8-0 win.
Pease was dominant in the circle all afternoon throwing a two-hit shutout, her first of the season. The senior struck out a batter in five of the six innings pitched totaling six for the contest.
Game Two
A two-run home run by Evans in the first inning gave Minnesota a lead and the offense had base runners in all five innings, but the Longhorns responded by scoring 12 consecutive runs for the short-inning decision. Valencia lined a pinch-hit, solo shot just inside the foul pole with two outs in the fifth for her first collegiate home run capping the game.
Espalin opened the game hitting a single back up the middle and the Gophers struck for an early 2-0 lead as Evans crushed a home run to straight-away center field. Texas responded in the bottom of the first getting a one-out triple, a play which was challenged and upheld, before a RBI single from the next batter closed the gap to 2-1.
The Longhorns took advantage of two walks and a bunt single in the second to load the bases and evened the score getting another walk. The home side added a RBI single up the middle jumping in front and tacked on four more runs before the inning was over as the margin stretched to 7-2.
Minnesota had a chance to climb back into the game loading the bases in the third as Espalin and Evans dropped down bunt singles around a DenHartog walk, but Texas escaped the jam retiring the next two batters. The Longhorns used the momentum from the defensive stand hitting a solo home run on the second pitch in the bottom half of the frame and added three more runs to extend their advantage to 11-2.
The Gophers again put three runners on base in the fourth with two free passes and an infield single by DenHartog and failed to push a run across. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Valencia stepped to the plate for the first time in Maroon and Gold and launched a solo home run to left. Minnesota left eight runners on base for the game and fell in five innings, 12-3.
Up Next
The Gophers close the weekend slate of games Sunday in a matinee against the host Longhorns at noon in a makeup of Friday's original contest.
Natalie DenHartog tied the Gophers all-time home run record launching the 51st of her career during the opening game of the day, while Nani Valencia hit a solo home run off the Longhorns in her first collegiate at-bat.
Game One
Minnesota showcased a disciplined approach at the plate and earned 13 free bases, including 11 walks, on the way to an 8-0 victory over the Bulldogs in six innings. Autumn Pease cruised through the Drake lineup tossing a two-hit shutout.
The Gophers (13-11 overall) put at least two base runners on in each of the first two frames with two outs and were unable to convert their chances, including a bases-loaded threat in the second as the score remained scoreless. Minnesota finally broke through in the third as Natalie DenHartog crushed an 0-1 pitch high off the scoreboard in center field to take a 1-0 lead. It was the 51st home run of her career, tying Jordanne Nygren for the program's all-time record.
A two-out rally later in the third led to a pair of runs as Sara Kinch drew a walk and scored on a Drake error following Emily Hansen's single. The Gophers made it a 3-0 margin as Ellee Jensen reached on the third-straight free pass issued by the Bulldogs, this time a bases-loaded walk that brought Hansen home. DenHartog came around to score in the fourth as she started the inning hitting a single up the middle and promptly swiped second base. After taking third on a fly ball, the senior scored on Chloe Evans' sac fly to left and the lead stretched to 4-0.
Minnesota closed out the run-rule victory scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth without recording a hit as it capitalized on seven free bases, including four with the bases loaded. Kinch, Hansen, Costa and Jensen all recorded RBI walks for the Gophers securing the 8-0 win.
Pease was dominant in the circle all afternoon throwing a two-hit shutout, her first of the season. The senior struck out a batter in five of the six innings pitched totaling six for the contest.
Game Two
A two-run home run by Evans in the first inning gave Minnesota a lead and the offense had base runners in all five innings, but the Longhorns responded by scoring 12 consecutive runs for the short-inning decision. Valencia lined a pinch-hit, solo shot just inside the foul pole with two outs in the fifth for her first collegiate home run capping the game.
Espalin opened the game hitting a single back up the middle and the Gophers struck for an early 2-0 lead as Evans crushed a home run to straight-away center field. Texas responded in the bottom of the first getting a one-out triple, a play which was challenged and upheld, before a RBI single from the next batter closed the gap to 2-1.
The Longhorns took advantage of two walks and a bunt single in the second to load the bases and evened the score getting another walk. The home side added a RBI single up the middle jumping in front and tacked on four more runs before the inning was over as the margin stretched to 7-2.
Minnesota had a chance to climb back into the game loading the bases in the third as Espalin and Evans dropped down bunt singles around a DenHartog walk, but Texas escaped the jam retiring the next two batters. The Longhorns used the momentum from the defensive stand hitting a solo home run on the second pitch in the bottom half of the frame and added three more runs to extend their advantage to 11-2.
The Gophers again put three runners on base in the fourth with two free passes and an infield single by DenHartog and failed to push a run across. With two outs in the top of the fifth, Valencia stepped to the plate for the first time in Maroon and Gold and launched a solo home run to left. Minnesota left eight runners on base for the game and fell in five innings, 12-3.
Up Next
The Gophers close the weekend slate of games Sunday in a matinee against the host Longhorns at noon in a makeup of Friday's original contest.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dolcini, Hailey (5-3)
L: Leavitt, Emily (6-5)
Batting:
2B: Dray, Megan 1
HR: Evans, Chloe 1 ; Valencia, Nani 1
RBI: Evans, Chloe 2 ; Valencia, Nani 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Evans, Chloe 1 ; Valencia, Nani 1
HBP: Dray, Megan 1
Batting:
2B: Jefferson, Janae 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Cimusz, Katie 1 ; Day, Courtney 1
3B: Scott, Mia 1
HR: Day, Courtney 1
RBI: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Scott, Mia 1 ; Parker, McKenzie 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 3 ; Cimusz, Katie 2 ; Day, Courtney 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1
SF: Washington, Alyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Scott, Mia 3 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Burke, Lauren 2 ; Day, Courtney 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Dayton, Bella 2
SB: Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Dayton, Bella 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
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