University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
13-11-1
Texas
16-9-1
Gophers and Longhorns Play to Sunday Tie
3/13/2022 5:45:00 PM | Softball
Sara Kinch, Chloe Evans and Kayla Chavez all hit home runs as the Gophers built a six-run advantage in four innings. The Longhorns responded with a five-run sixth inning to tie the score and the game was stopped as Minnesota recorded its first tie since March 8, 2020.
The Gophers made Texas pay for a pair of walks in the top of the first when Kinch belted a three-run shot deep to left field after Lauren Espalin and Evans drew free passes. The Longhorns used back-to-back singles opening their half of the first and both scored via an error as the margin was cut to one, 3-2.
Three walks in the second allowed Minnesota to load the bases with one out and Megan Dray slid home safely on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ellee Jensen as the advantage moved to 4-2. Texas responded again getting a run back hitting a bases-loaded single before a running catch by Evans stranded three Longhorns on base and kept Minnesota's lead, 4-3.
A defensive stand for the Gophers in the third kept Texas off the scoreboard following a pair of walks that put two runners on base. That momentum carried to the Minnesota bats as Dray laced a double to the wall and pinch runner MacKenzie Denson scored on pinch hitter Kayla Chavez's single to center. Espalin sent a RBI double, her team-leading eighth of the season, into left and the lead stretched to 6-3.
Texas had an answer in the bottom of the fourth getting two doubles to put a run on the board and close the gap to 6-4. The Gophers regained a three-run cushion opening the fifth as Evans sent a high drive to center that the wind carried over the fence. After walks to Kinch and Dray, Chavez turned on a pitch and launched her first collegiate home run, a three-run blast to left, and Minnesota's advantage swelled to 10-4.
The margin dipped as the Longhorns hit a solo home run in the fifth and extended the rally into the sixth where they scored five times to tie the game, 10-10. The Gophers stranded two Texas runners in scoring position getting out of the frame behind a play at the plate. Two batters into the top of the seventh, the action was halted due to travel plans and an agreed upon ending time already established.
Up Next
Minnesota will take a short break from competition before heading to Piscataway, N.J., for its first Big Ten Conference series of 2022 battling Rutgers Mar. 25-27.
Team Stats
Batting:
2B: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Dray, Megan 1
HR: Evans, Chloe 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 1
RBI: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 1 ; Evans, Chloe 1 ; Kinch, Sara 3 ; Chavez, Kayla 3
SH: Strelow, Sydney 1
SF: Jensen, Ellee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Evans, Chloe 2 ; Kinch, Sara 1 ; Ehlke, Maddy 1 ; Dray, Megan 2 ; Denson, MacKenzie 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 2
Batting:
2B: Scott, Mia 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Day, Courtney 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 2
HR: Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Dayton, Bella 1
RBI: Parker, McKenzie 2 ; Iakopo, Mary 4 ; Washington, Alyssa 2 ; Dayton, Bella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jefferson, Janae 2 ; Scott, Mia 2 ; Parker, McKenzie 1 ; Iakopo, Mary 1 ; Gilbert, Lou 1 ; Corona, Camille 1 ; Washington, Alyssa 1 ; Dayton, Bella 1
