University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, April 9
Iowa City, IA
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
17-15-1, 4-4
5
at
2
Iowa
18-16, 1-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Minnesota
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
5
10
0
Iowa
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
2
5
1
Dray Pushes Minnesota to Extra-Inning Win at Iowa
4/9/2022 5:00:00 PM | Softball
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Back-to-back home runs by Megan Dray and Sara Kinch in the eighth inning secured a 5-2 extra-innings win for the Minnesota softball team at Iowa Saturday from Bob Pearl Field.
Dray's career-best third hit of the day delivered a critical blow to the Hawkeyes as she belted a two-out, two-run blast to left center breaking a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth. Kinch followed by sending a solo shot to straight-away center for a three-run cushion and Autumn Pease set down Iowa in order evening the weekend series at a game apiece. Pease allowed just one hit across 3.2 innings of relief work to earn the win retiring 10 of the 11 batters she faced, including nine straight to end the contest.
The Gophers defense shined early as Makenna Dowell made a spectacular diving catch in foul territory for their first out of the day and helped starting pitcher Emily Leavitt post a zero on the board. Minnesota turned the defense into offense in the second as Sydney Strelow pulled a one-out single to left and sprinted into third on a misplay by the Iowa outfielder. The junior scored on a RBI single off the bat of Megan Dray and a RBI double from Sara Kinch followed as the Gophers jumped to a 2-0 advantage.
Another web gem from Minnesota in the field ended Iowa's second inning as Kayla Chavez, Strelow and Dray combined to turn an inning-ending double play. The Gophers looked to build on that momentum, but a batter's interference call stalled the rally and the visitors stranded two on the base paths during the third. Iowa cut the deficit in half, opening its half of the third with a sun-aided double and got on the board hitting a double to make it a 2-1 game.
After the Hawkeyes started the fourth on a triple to right, Minnesota held off the home side and escaped the inning without conceding a run thanks to a brilliant double play started by Dray. She snagged a liner at first and fired across the diamond catching the runner. Iowa drew back-to-back walks with one out in the fifth and the Gophers turned to Pease in the circle. The Hawkeyes were able to get the tying run on a RBI single but Natalie DenHartog threw a dart home, easily catching the runner at the plate keeping it 2-2. Neither side could break the deadlock as the matinee headed into extra innings.
It was all Minnesota in the extra frame as Chloe Evans ripped a one-out double to right and clutch two-out power from Dray and Kinch proved to be the difference. Pease made quick work of the Iowa hitters in the bottom half of the frame as the Gophers evened the weekend series behind a 5-2 victory.
Up Next
The series between Minnesota and Iowa is on the line in Sunday's finale. First pitch is slated for noon with live coverage available on B1G+.
Dray's career-best third hit of the day delivered a critical blow to the Hawkeyes as she belted a two-out, two-run blast to left center breaking a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth. Kinch followed by sending a solo shot to straight-away center for a three-run cushion and Autumn Pease set down Iowa in order evening the weekend series at a game apiece. Pease allowed just one hit across 3.2 innings of relief work to earn the win retiring 10 of the 11 batters she faced, including nine straight to end the contest.
The Gophers defense shined early as Makenna Dowell made a spectacular diving catch in foul territory for their first out of the day and helped starting pitcher Emily Leavitt post a zero on the board. Minnesota turned the defense into offense in the second as Sydney Strelow pulled a one-out single to left and sprinted into third on a misplay by the Iowa outfielder. The junior scored on a RBI single off the bat of Megan Dray and a RBI double from Sara Kinch followed as the Gophers jumped to a 2-0 advantage.
.@makenna_dowell really went after it 👏 #NCAASoftball x 🎥 @GopherSoftballpic.twitter.com/33pcCoSsFz
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) April 9, 2022
Another web gem from Minnesota in the field ended Iowa's second inning as Kayla Chavez, Strelow and Dray combined to turn an inning-ending double play. The Gophers looked to build on that momentum, but a batter's interference call stalled the rally and the visitors stranded two on the base paths during the third. Iowa cut the deficit in half, opening its half of the third with a sun-aided double and got on the board hitting a double to make it a 2-1 game.
After the Hawkeyes started the fourth on a triple to right, Minnesota held off the home side and escaped the inning without conceding a run thanks to a brilliant double play started by Dray. She snagged a liner at first and fired across the diamond catching the runner. Iowa drew back-to-back walks with one out in the fifth and the Gophers turned to Pease in the circle. The Hawkeyes were able to get the tying run on a RBI single but Natalie DenHartog threw a dart home, easily catching the runner at the plate keeping it 2-2. Neither side could break the deadlock as the matinee headed into extra innings.
It was all Minnesota in the extra frame as Chloe Evans ripped a one-out double to right and clutch two-out power from Dray and Kinch proved to be the difference. Pease made quick work of the Iowa hitters in the bottom half of the frame as the Gophers evened the weekend series behind a 5-2 victory.
Up Next
The series between Minnesota and Iowa is on the line in Sunday's finale. First pitch is slated for noon with live coverage available on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pease, Autumn (10-8)
L: Vasquez, Breanna (6-9)
Batting:
2B: Evans, Chloe 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1
HR: Dray, Megan 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1
RBI: Dray, Megan 3 ; Kinch, Sara 2
SH: Dowell, Makenna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Evans, Chloe 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Dray, Megan 2 ; Kinch, Sara 1
Batting:
2B: Klosterman, Brylee 1 ; DeSena, Amber 1
3B: Burns, Kalena 1
RBI: Klosterman, Brylee 1 ; Carter, Nia 1
SH: Maras, Sophia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DeSena, Amber 1 ; Moss, Rylie 1
HBP: Loecker, Denali 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/1B
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ 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