University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 1
4:00 PM
University of Minnesota
1
vs
2
Illinois
Photo by: Stacy Bengs
Minnesota's Lead Slips Away in Extra-Inning Loss Friday
4/1/2022 7:00:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota softball scored first but saw its one-run lead slip away late in an extra-inning loss to Illinois, 2-1, during its home opener Friday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
Lauren Espalin started the Gophers offense hitting a double to left and was left in scoring position as the Illini ended a scoreless opening inning for both sides. Minnesota broke the tie in the bottom of the third as Kayla Chavez reached second on an Illinois error and a single from Ellee Jensen put runners on the corners to begin the frame. Espalin laced her second hit of the day, battling during a 10-pitch at-bat, to plate a run as the Gophers took a 1-0 advantage. After an intentional walk to Natalie DenHartog loaded the bases with nobody out, the Illini retired the next three batters ending the threat and kept the damage to one.
Emily Leavitt and the Minnesota defense were up to the task early as she faced just two over the minimum through four innings. The freshman needed only five pitches in the third and eight in the fourth putting away the Illinois hitters. Leavitt got the first two batters out in the fifth on back-to-back pitches before the visitors got two runners on base. A leaping grab in shallow right field by Sydney Strelow stopped the inning and maintained the one-run edge for the Gophers.
Illinois hit a one-out double during the sixth and evened the score on a RBI single driving Minnesota to make a pitching change. Autumn Pease forced consecutive groundouts and stranded the runner at third of a 1-1 tie. The Gophers looked to break the deadlock in the bottom half of the frame as Strelow lifted a double off the top of the fence in left and scampered to third on a misplay. She was caught at home on a short fly to right as Illinois needed a perfect throw to the plate to prevent the go-ahead run from scoring.
Pease worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh following three Illini singles by getting another ground ball. Minnesota was unable to take advantage of another opportunity later that inning as Jensen sent a two-out double to left before being thrown out at third on the play. Illinois caught a favorable wind in the top of the eighth hitting a two-out, two-strike, solo home run for a 2-1 margin and the Gophers went down in order, falling 2-1, snapping a streak of six-straight home opening wins.
Leavitt threw 60 pitches in 5.1 innings giving up one run on four hits, while Pease was charged with the loss allowing one run on four hits across 2.2 innings and struck out three. Espalin and Jensen carried the offense combining for five of the team's six hits.
Up Next
The Gophers continue the weekend series against Illinois Saturday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. live on BTN+ or join the fun in person with tickets available HERE.
Lauren Espalin started the Gophers offense hitting a double to left and was left in scoring position as the Illini ended a scoreless opening inning for both sides. Minnesota broke the tie in the bottom of the third as Kayla Chavez reached second on an Illinois error and a single from Ellee Jensen put runners on the corners to begin the frame. Espalin laced her second hit of the day, battling during a 10-pitch at-bat, to plate a run as the Gophers took a 1-0 advantage. After an intentional walk to Natalie DenHartog loaded the bases with nobody out, the Illini retired the next three batters ending the threat and kept the damage to one.
Emily Leavitt and the Minnesota defense were up to the task early as she faced just two over the minimum through four innings. The freshman needed only five pitches in the third and eight in the fourth putting away the Illinois hitters. Leavitt got the first two batters out in the fifth on back-to-back pitches before the visitors got two runners on base. A leaping grab in shallow right field by Sydney Strelow stopped the inning and maintained the one-run edge for the Gophers.
Illinois hit a one-out double during the sixth and evened the score on a RBI single driving Minnesota to make a pitching change. Autumn Pease forced consecutive groundouts and stranded the runner at third of a 1-1 tie. The Gophers looked to break the deadlock in the bottom half of the frame as Strelow lifted a double off the top of the fence in left and scampered to third on a misplay. She was caught at home on a short fly to right as Illinois needed a perfect throw to the plate to prevent the go-ahead run from scoring.
Pease worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh following three Illini singles by getting another ground ball. Minnesota was unable to take advantage of another opportunity later that inning as Jensen sent a two-out double to left before being thrown out at third on the play. Illinois caught a favorable wind in the top of the eighth hitting a two-out, two-strike, solo home run for a 2-1 margin and the Gophers went down in order, falling 2-1, snapping a streak of six-straight home opening wins.
Leavitt threw 60 pitches in 5.1 innings giving up one run on four hits, while Pease was charged with the loss allowing one run on four hits across 2.2 innings and struck out three. Espalin and Jensen carried the offense combining for five of the team's six hits.
Up Next
The Gophers continue the weekend series against Illinois Saturday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. live on BTN+ or join the fun in person with tickets available HERE.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
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