University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 29
Ann Arbor, MI
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Michigan
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
Final Road Series Awaits Gophers at Michigan
4/28/2022 10:15:00 AM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota softball hits the road for its final road series of the regular season April 29-May 1 in a three-game set at three-time reigning Big Ten Conference champion Michigan. BTN will have coverage of every pitch against the No. 22 Wolverines live from Alumni Field starting Friday at 5 p.m. (CT).
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
The Gophers non-conference schedule ranks as the No. 2 most difficult in all of NCAA softball as they have played 14 games against opponents inside the top 50 of the RPI, including 10 in the top 25. Minnesota has posted a 15-11-1 record when facing a team outside of the Big Ten Conference this season, while its overall strength of schedule ranks 19th in the nation playing 20 games against the top 50.
NATALIE AT THE TOP
On the third pitch she saw in the fourth inning Mar. 27 at Rutgers, Natalie DenHartog sent a deep fly high over the center field fence and circled the bases for the 52nd time in her career. That set a Minnesota record as she became the all-time home run leader passing Jordanne Nygren's mark of 51 from 1999-2003. She matched Nygren on a solo shot against Drake Mar. 12 capping an incredible stretch where she belted eight home runs in a span of 28 at-bats. DenHartog has totaled 165 RBI across 170 career games played, needing just five RBI to crack the program's top five. She is 23rd in the country launching 15 home runs, 13 of which have come in Gopher victories, and ranks 44th in the NCAA registering 100 total bases.
CHLOE IN CHARGE
Chloe Evans has reached base safely in 33 of 42 games played this season and been a run-producing machine for Minnesota. The sophomore paces the team with 41 RBI and ranks 60th in the country averaging nearly a RBI per game, including four, four-RBI performances. She has a hit in 20 of her last 25 outings, including her first career triple against South Dakota State April 13, and scored at least one run in 15 of those contests.
GETTING OUR STEPS IN BY WALKING
Minnesota drew double-digit free bases (11) for the second time this season April 13 against the Jackrabbits continuing a trend of a disciplined approach at the plate in which it ranks 17th nationally totaling a B1G-best 162 walks. The Gophers have drawn five or more walks 13 times over their previous 21 games and are averaging 5.7 free bases, 103 walks and 16 hit batters, per game in that span. Nine different players have recorded double-digit walks for the team in 2022 with Evans (24) and Sydney Strelow (23) leading the way.
RECOMMEND A DINGER (OR MORE) A DAY
Minnesota has launched 58 home runs in 42 games this season to sit 20th in the NCAA averaging 1.4 home runs per game. Ten different players have hit a long ball, led by 15 from DenHartog, nine by Evans and seven from Megan Dray, Sara Kinch and Strelow. The Gophers have posted a 20-7-1 record when hitting at least one home run in 2022. The team's six home runs Mar. 27 at Rutgers were the most in a single game since hitting six against Kent State Mar. 1, 2019, and just the second time hitting that mark over the last decade.
STRONG START TO THE INNING
Minnesota has recorded a .391 batting average (108-for-276) when leading off an inning. Lauren Espalin has a team-best 29 hits in that position and a .468 average giving the Gophers offense early chances with runners on base. DenHartog is hitting .560 as the lead-off batter (14-for-25), while Makenna Dowell (.429), Ellee Jensen (.417) and Strelow (.414) also are hitting .400 or better.
POSTSEASON PUSH
The Gophers have reached a NCAA Regional each of the last eight times it was conducted, including an epic run to the Women's College World Series in 2019. That streak was continued in 2021 under first-year head coach Piper Ritter when Minnesota advanced to the NCAA Los Angeles Regional final before falling to UCLA. Ritter is no stranger to the postseason event as she helped the team to seven NCAA appearances as an assistant coach and pitched in two NCAA regionals during her time wearing the Maroon and Gold in the circle.
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns home for its next five games to close the 2022 regular season beginning with a mid-week doubleheader against rival Wisconsin. The Border Battle is set for Wednesday, May 4 starting at 1 p.m.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
UP FOR THE CHALLENGE
The Gophers non-conference schedule ranks as the No. 2 most difficult in all of NCAA softball as they have played 14 games against opponents inside the top 50 of the RPI, including 10 in the top 25. Minnesota has posted a 15-11-1 record when facing a team outside of the Big Ten Conference this season, while its overall strength of schedule ranks 19th in the nation playing 20 games against the top 50.
NATALIE AT THE TOP
On the third pitch she saw in the fourth inning Mar. 27 at Rutgers, Natalie DenHartog sent a deep fly high over the center field fence and circled the bases for the 52nd time in her career. That set a Minnesota record as she became the all-time home run leader passing Jordanne Nygren's mark of 51 from 1999-2003. She matched Nygren on a solo shot against Drake Mar. 12 capping an incredible stretch where she belted eight home runs in a span of 28 at-bats. DenHartog has totaled 165 RBI across 170 career games played, needing just five RBI to crack the program's top five. She is 23rd in the country launching 15 home runs, 13 of which have come in Gopher victories, and ranks 44th in the NCAA registering 100 total bases.
CHLOE IN CHARGE
Chloe Evans has reached base safely in 33 of 42 games played this season and been a run-producing machine for Minnesota. The sophomore paces the team with 41 RBI and ranks 60th in the country averaging nearly a RBI per game, including four, four-RBI performances. She has a hit in 20 of her last 25 outings, including her first career triple against South Dakota State April 13, and scored at least one run in 15 of those contests.
GETTING OUR STEPS IN BY WALKING
Minnesota drew double-digit free bases (11) for the second time this season April 13 against the Jackrabbits continuing a trend of a disciplined approach at the plate in which it ranks 17th nationally totaling a B1G-best 162 walks. The Gophers have drawn five or more walks 13 times over their previous 21 games and are averaging 5.7 free bases, 103 walks and 16 hit batters, per game in that span. Nine different players have recorded double-digit walks for the team in 2022 with Evans (24) and Sydney Strelow (23) leading the way.
RECOMMEND A DINGER (OR MORE) A DAY
Minnesota has launched 58 home runs in 42 games this season to sit 20th in the NCAA averaging 1.4 home runs per game. Ten different players have hit a long ball, led by 15 from DenHartog, nine by Evans and seven from Megan Dray, Sara Kinch and Strelow. The Gophers have posted a 20-7-1 record when hitting at least one home run in 2022. The team's six home runs Mar. 27 at Rutgers were the most in a single game since hitting six against Kent State Mar. 1, 2019, and just the second time hitting that mark over the last decade.
STRONG START TO THE INNING
Minnesota has recorded a .391 batting average (108-for-276) when leading off an inning. Lauren Espalin has a team-best 29 hits in that position and a .468 average giving the Gophers offense early chances with runners on base. DenHartog is hitting .560 as the lead-off batter (14-for-25), while Makenna Dowell (.429), Ellee Jensen (.417) and Strelow (.414) also are hitting .400 or better.
POSTSEASON PUSH
The Gophers have reached a NCAA Regional each of the last eight times it was conducted, including an epic run to the Women's College World Series in 2019. That streak was continued in 2021 under first-year head coach Piper Ritter when Minnesota advanced to the NCAA Los Angeles Regional final before falling to UCLA. Ritter is no stranger to the postseason event as she helped the team to seven NCAA appearances as an assistant coach and pitched in two NCAA regionals during her time wearing the Maroon and Gold in the circle.
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns home for its next five games to close the 2022 regular season beginning with a mid-week doubleheader against rival Wisconsin. The Border Battle is set for Wednesday, May 4 starting at 1 p.m.
Minnesota (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