Gophers Overpower Illinois in Run-Rule Victory Saturday

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MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota softball struck for 14 runs in just four trips to the plate Saturday dominating Illinois in a 14-6, run-rule victory from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium evening the Big Ten Conference series.

The bats came alive for the Golden Gophers (16-13-1 overall, 3-2 B1G) as they scored every inning, including a seven-run outburst in the third. Eleven different players had at least one hit for the Maroon & Gold and seven drove in runs as the lineup produced from top to bottom.

Four runs in the bottom of the first got the day started for Minnesota as Natalie DenHartog and Sydney Strelow each lifted two-run home runs. The margin stretched to 6-0 through two innings thanks to the third, two-run blast of the game, this time off the bat of Lauren Espalin.

Autumn Pease dominated the Illinois lineup the first time through the order and did not allow a baserunner, putting away the first nine batters she faced.

The Gophers broke things wide open in the third striking for seven runs on five hits pushing the advantage to 13-0 as 13 players were sent to the plate during the burst. Sara Kinch laced a two-run single to left with the bases loaded and Ellee Jensen added a bases-loaded walk to bring home another run. The rally continued when DenHartog pulled a double down the line plating a pair before Chloe Evans and Makenna Dowell each added a RBI in the frame.

The Illini broke the shutout bid in the fourth getting back-to-back singles opening the frame and tallied two RBI hits to close the gap to 13-3. After Evans posted a RBI single in the bottom half of the inning, the visitors tallied three more runs during the fifth on one hit before Minnesota closed out the short-inning win, 14-6.

Pease recorded the win for the Gophers allowing three runs on four hits in four innings of work and struck out two. Espalin, DenHartog and Evans each produced multi-hit efforts, while Strelow and Jensen combined to draw five of the team's eight walks.

Up Next
Minnesota and Illinois close the weekend series in the rubber game Sunday morning at 11 a.m. as ESPN2 will be broadcasting live from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

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