University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 25
Piscataway, NJ
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
13-12-1, 0-1
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Rutgers
22-10, 1-0
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Gophers Drop B1G Opener at Rutgers Friday
3/25/2022 5:00:00 PM | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Despite posting more hits than their opponents, the Gopher softball team dropped their Big Ten Conference opener at Rutgers, 9-2, Friday afternoon on the road at Rutgers Softball Complex.
After Minnesota built a 2-0 lead on a Sydney Strelow two-run double in the second, Rutgers responded scoring nine-unanswered runs over the next two frames securing the league win. Strelow and Megan Dray each reached base three times and the Gophers had at least one base runner in every inning played, but stranded eight in the contest.
The Gophers escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first after the Scarlet Knights drew three-straight, two-out walks. Kayla Chavez fielded a sharp grounder and retired Rutgers keeping the game scoreless through one frame. Minnesota quickly turned the defense into offense as Sara Kinch and Dray hit singles to open the second and came around to score as Strelow ripped a two-run double off the wall in right for a 2-0 lead.
Rutgers fought back in the second behind a two-out rally taking advantage of five-straight free passes, including two with the bases loaded. The home side added two more runs on a single to left pushing in front, 4-2. Natalie DenHartog and Chloe Evans started the third with hits and the Gophers loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to score after a close call on a check swing ended the opportunity.
Four more free bases by the Scarlet Knights in the bottom of the third led to a run before a grand slam stretched the margin to 9-2. Strelow's second hit of the afternoon and a DenHartog walk put two on base for Minnesota as it looked to climb back into the game only to see Rutgers stop the fourth-inning threat.
The Gophers had a player reach via a walk or hit-by-pitch in each of the final three frames. The visitors could not come up with a timely hit to close the gap and suffered a 9-2 setback.
Up Next
Minnesota and Rutgers continue the weekend series Saturday starting at 12 p.m. (CT) live on B1G+.
After Minnesota built a 2-0 lead on a Sydney Strelow two-run double in the second, Rutgers responded scoring nine-unanswered runs over the next two frames securing the league win. Strelow and Megan Dray each reached base three times and the Gophers had at least one base runner in every inning played, but stranded eight in the contest.
The Gophers escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first after the Scarlet Knights drew three-straight, two-out walks. Kayla Chavez fielded a sharp grounder and retired Rutgers keeping the game scoreless through one frame. Minnesota quickly turned the defense into offense as Sara Kinch and Dray hit singles to open the second and came around to score as Strelow ripped a two-run double off the wall in right for a 2-0 lead.
Rutgers fought back in the second behind a two-out rally taking advantage of five-straight free passes, including two with the bases loaded. The home side added two more runs on a single to left pushing in front, 4-2. Natalie DenHartog and Chloe Evans started the third with hits and the Gophers loaded the bases with two outs, but were unable to score after a close call on a check swing ended the opportunity.
Four more free bases by the Scarlet Knights in the bottom of the third led to a run before a grand slam stretched the margin to 9-2. Strelow's second hit of the afternoon and a DenHartog walk put two on base for Minnesota as it looked to climb back into the game only to see Rutgers stop the fourth-inning threat.
The Gophers had a player reach via a walk or hit-by-pitch in each of the final three frames. The visitors could not come up with a timely hit to close the gap and suffered a 9-2 setback.
Up Next
Minnesota and Rutgers continue the weekend series Saturday starting at 12 p.m. (CT) live on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hitchcock, A (9-8)
L: Pease, Autumn (7-7)
Batting:
2B: DenHartog, Natalie 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1
RBI: Strelow, Sydney 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kinch, Sara 1 ; Dray, Megan 1
SB: Evans, Chloe 1
HBP: Dray, Megan 1
Batting:
2B: Callaway, G 1
HR: Callaway, G 1
RBI: Lincavage, P 1 ; Callaway, G 5 ; Bock, K 1 ; Wingert, K 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sand, K 2 ; Lincavage, P 2 ; Callaway, G 2 ; Withstandley 1 ; Hura, K 1 ; Lane, T 1
HBP: Lincavage, P 1 ; Bock, K 1
Game Leaders
AB
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RBI
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RBI
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RBI
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballINF
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