University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, April 17
Lincoln, NE
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
19-18-1, 5-7
8
at
11
Nebraska
33-9, 13-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Minnesota
1
1
6
0
0
0
0
8
5
0
Nebraska
0
1
3
0
4
3
X
11
13
2
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Three Home Runs Not Enough in Sunday Loss
4/17/2022 3:30:00 PM | Softball
LINCOLN, Neb. - Minnesota softball built an 8-1 lead at (RV) Nebraska before the home side rallied late in an 11-8 loss Sunday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.
The Gophers jumped out to an 8-1 advantage thanks to three home runs, highlighted by an Emily Hansen grand slam in the third. Nebraska hit a grand slam of its own in the fifth that pulled the home side even, 8-8, and the surge continued during a three-run sixth.
Lauren Espalin put Minnesota on the board just two pitches into the contest as she lined a solo home run to left center. Sara Kinch followed Espalin's example and hammered the second pitch of the inning, this time in the second frame. She made it a 2-0 lead by sending a solo shot into the parking lot behind the stadium.
Nebraska fought back in the bottom of the second hitting three singles to load the bases and brought a run home on a walk to cut the margin in half. Makenna Dowell's exceptional defense stopped the rush as she made a play from her stomach flipping to second for the final out.
The Gophers extended their advantage thanks to a Husker error starting the third that allowed Kayla Chavez to reach before Espalin walked, putting two on base. The runners moved into scoring position on Ellee Jensen's sacrifice bunt and a run scored via a RBI groundout by Sydney Strelow. The frame continued as Natalie DenHartog walked and stole second followed by a free pass to Kinch loading the bases. Nebraska turned to a new pitcher and pinch hitter Ali Lindner was walked to plate a run. Hansen stepped in and delivered a blow lifting a grand slam to left center as the margin swelled to 8-1.
The home side answered back in the third scoring three times behind a walk and four-straight, two-out singles closing the gap to 8-4. The Huskers hit three singles loading the bases in the fifth and a one-out grand slam evened the score. A two-out walk by Chavez before a single from Espalin in the sixth threatened for the visitors until a diving stop up the middle ended the chance.
Nebraska got a lead-off walk in the bottom half of the sixth and struck for a two-run home run to break the tie and added another run for a 11-8 edge. Minnesota got a one-out single in the seventh from DenHartog looking to comeback but dropped the series finale as the Huskers won their 18th-straight contest. Espalin reached base safely three times tallying two of the Gophers' five hits and had a walk.
Up Next
Minnesota returns to campus for its longest homestand of the season playing the next six games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium starting Wednesday, April 20 in a doubleheader against Wisconsin. Game one is set for 4 p.m. with BTN handling the national broadcast.
The Gophers jumped out to an 8-1 advantage thanks to three home runs, highlighted by an Emily Hansen grand slam in the third. Nebraska hit a grand slam of its own in the fifth that pulled the home side even, 8-8, and the surge continued during a three-run sixth.
Lauren Espalin put Minnesota on the board just two pitches into the contest as she lined a solo home run to left center. Sara Kinch followed Espalin's example and hammered the second pitch of the inning, this time in the second frame. She made it a 2-0 lead by sending a solo shot into the parking lot behind the stadium.
Nebraska fought back in the bottom of the second hitting three singles to load the bases and brought a run home on a walk to cut the margin in half. Makenna Dowell's exceptional defense stopped the rush as she made a play from her stomach flipping to second for the final out.
The Gophers extended their advantage thanks to a Husker error starting the third that allowed Kayla Chavez to reach before Espalin walked, putting two on base. The runners moved into scoring position on Ellee Jensen's sacrifice bunt and a run scored via a RBI groundout by Sydney Strelow. The frame continued as Natalie DenHartog walked and stole second followed by a free pass to Kinch loading the bases. Nebraska turned to a new pitcher and pinch hitter Ali Lindner was walked to plate a run. Hansen stepped in and delivered a blow lifting a grand slam to left center as the margin swelled to 8-1.
The home side answered back in the third scoring three times behind a walk and four-straight, two-out singles closing the gap to 8-4. The Huskers hit three singles loading the bases in the fifth and a one-out grand slam evened the score. A two-out walk by Chavez before a single from Espalin in the sixth threatened for the visitors until a diving stop up the middle ended the chance.
Nebraska got a lead-off walk in the bottom half of the sixth and struck for a two-run home run to break the tie and added another run for a 11-8 edge. Minnesota got a one-out single in the seventh from DenHartog looking to comeback but dropped the series finale as the Huskers won their 18th-straight contest. Espalin reached base safely three times tallying two of the Gophers' five hits and had a walk.
Up Next
Minnesota returns to campus for its longest homestand of the season playing the next six games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium starting Wednesday, April 20 in a doubleheader against Wisconsin. Game one is set for 4 p.m. with BTN handling the national broadcast.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ferrell, Olivia (17-4)
L: Leavitt, Emily (8-8)
Batting:
HR: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1 ; Hansen, Emily 1
RBI: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1 ; Lindner, Ali 1 ; Hansen, Emily 4
SH: Jensen, Ellee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Espalin, Lauren 2 ; DenHartog, Natalie 1 ; Kinch, Sara 2 ; Lindner, Ali 1 ; Hansen, Emily 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 1
SB: DenHartog, Natalie 1
Batting:
2B: Neal, Caitlynn 1
HR: Felder, Mya 1 ; Glatter, Peyton 1
RBI: Felder, Mya 2 ; Neal, Caitlynn 3 ; Glatter, Peyton 5 ; Andrews, Brooke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ybarra, Cam 1 ; Felder, Mya 3 ; Armendariz, Camyl 1 ; Squier, Abbie 2 ; Bredwell, Ava 2 ; Neal, Caitlynn 1 ; Glatter, Peyton 1
HBP: Squier, Abbie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballUT
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballMinnesota (4) - Michigan (0) Highlights
Friday, May 02
Sydney Schwartz Throws No-Hitter
Tuesday, April 29
Gophers (8) - North Dakota (0) Highlights
Sunday, April 27
Gophers (5) - North Dakota (3) Highlights
Saturday, April 26