University of Minnesota Athletics

Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Espalin's Seven RBI Sends Minnesota to 11-7 Victory at Rutgers
3/26/2022 3:45:00 PM | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Two home runs off the bat of Lauren Espalin, including a grand slam, propelled Minnesota to an 11-7 victory at Rutgers Saturday from Rutgers Softball Stadium. The grad transfer tied a program record with her seven-RBI performance and is the first to reach that mark since 1999.
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Espalin launched a three-run home run in the second inning and cleared the bases hitting a grand slam in the third as the Gophers (14-2-1 overall, 1-1 B1G) built an 11-1Â cushion and held off a late rally from the Scarlet Knights.
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After walks to the first two batters in the bottom of the first, Rutgers opened the scoring hitting a RBI double before Emily Leavitt and the defense stopped the frame. Megan Dray snagged a bunt attempt and fired to third doubling off a runner ending the inning.
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Three-straight singles helped Minnesota even the score the next time at the plate as Sydney Strelow and Makenna Dowell reached putting runners on the corners. Kayla Chavez dropped in a RBI single to tie the game, 1-1, and Espalin delivered a major blow as she laced a three-run home run to left center and the Gophers jumped to a 4-1 advantage.
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The third inning belonged to Minnesota as it sent 12 players to the plate in a seven-run frame highlighted by a Chloe Evans solo home run and Espalin's grand slam. Evans crushed the second pitch of the inning well clear of the fence in right center for her sixth home run this season. The Gophers continued to pressure Rutgers and loaded the bases for Chavez, who came through again with her second RBI single of the afternoon. Ellee Jensen drew a four-pitch walk plating another run stretching the Minnesota margin to 7-1. Espalin stepped up and belted a grand slam to left etching her name in the school record book with her seventh RBI tying four other Gophers for the single-game mark.
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The Scarlet Knights got a run back later in the third, but Leavitt shut the door the rest of that inning and put up another zero on the board in the fourth maintaining the 11-2 lead. Down to its last strike in the fifth, Rutgers struck for a three-run home run extending the game and avoiding the run rule before the Gophers closed out the win, 11-7.
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Leavitt (7-5) tallied the victory in the circle allowing five runs in six innings and struck out seven, while Ansleigh Hollifield pitched the final frame for Minnesota.
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Up Next
The Gophers go for the series win over the Scarlet Knights in the finale slated for 10 a.m. (CT) Sunday morning with live coverage available on B1G+.
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Espalin launched a three-run home run in the second inning and cleared the bases hitting a grand slam in the third as the Gophers (14-2-1 overall, 1-1 B1G) built an 11-1Â cushion and held off a late rally from the Scarlet Knights.
Â
After walks to the first two batters in the bottom of the first, Rutgers opened the scoring hitting a RBI double before Emily Leavitt and the defense stopped the frame. Megan Dray snagged a bunt attempt and fired to third doubling off a runner ending the inning.
Â
Three-straight singles helped Minnesota even the score the next time at the plate as Sydney Strelow and Makenna Dowell reached putting runners on the corners. Kayla Chavez dropped in a RBI single to tie the game, 1-1, and Espalin delivered a major blow as she laced a three-run home run to left center and the Gophers jumped to a 4-1 advantage.
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The third inning belonged to Minnesota as it sent 12 players to the plate in a seven-run frame highlighted by a Chloe Evans solo home run and Espalin's grand slam. Evans crushed the second pitch of the inning well clear of the fence in right center for her sixth home run this season. The Gophers continued to pressure Rutgers and loaded the bases for Chavez, who came through again with her second RBI single of the afternoon. Ellee Jensen drew a four-pitch walk plating another run stretching the Minnesota margin to 7-1. Espalin stepped up and belted a grand slam to left etching her name in the school record book with her seventh RBI tying four other Gophers for the single-game mark.
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The Scarlet Knights got a run back later in the third, but Leavitt shut the door the rest of that inning and put up another zero on the board in the fourth maintaining the 11-2 lead. Down to its last strike in the fifth, Rutgers struck for a three-run home run extending the game and avoiding the run rule before the Gophers closed out the win, 11-7.
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Leavitt (7-5) tallied the victory in the circle allowing five runs in six innings and struck out seven, while Ansleigh Hollifield pitched the final frame for Minnesota.
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Up Next
The Gophers go for the series win over the Scarlet Knights in the finale slated for 10 a.m. (CT) Sunday morning with live coverage available on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leavitt, Emily (7-5)
L: Vickers, J (13-3)

Batting:
2B: DenHartog, Natalie 1
HR: Espalin, Lauren 2 ; Evans, Chloe 1
RBI: Espalin, Lauren 7 ; Evans, Chloe 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 2 ; Jensen, Ellee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Espalin, Lauren 2 ; Evans, Chloe 1 ; Denson, MacKenzie 1 ; Dray, Megan 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Dowell, Makenna 2 ; Chavez, Kayla 2 ; Jensen, Ellee 1

Batting:
2B: Callaway, G 1 ; Fawcett, T 1
HR: Fawcett, T 1 ; Hura, K 1
RBI: Callaway, G 1 ; Fawcett, T 3 ; Hura, K 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Sand, K 1 ; Lincavage, P 1 ; Callaway, G 1 ; Wingert, K 1 ; Hendri, G 1 ; Fawcett, T 1 ; Hura, K 1
HBP: Callaway, G 1 ; Withstandley 1
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