University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, May 20
Norman, OK
4:00 PM
University of Minnesota
26-25-1
1
vs
5
Texas A&M
30-26
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Minnesota
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
Texas A&M
0
0
1
2
0
2
X
5
9
2
Minnesota Falls in NCAA Opener to Texas A&M
5/20/2022 8:15:00 PM | Softball
NORMAN, Okla. - Minnesota softball opened the 2022 NCAA Norman Regional falling 5-1 to No. 2 seed Texas A&M Friday from Marita Hynes Field.
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The No. 3 seeded Golden Gophers (26-25-1 overall) scored the first run of the day and got two of their four hits from senior Natalie DenHartog. The Aggies responded by tallying the final five runs to advance into the winner's bracket of the double-elimination regional.
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DenHartog ripped a two-out single back up the middle in the first extending her streak of reaching base safely to 16 games. After recording a strikeout in a 1-2-3 frame to open the game, freshman Emily Leavitt struck out a pair in the second working around a lead-off single by the Aggies.
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The Gophers got on the scoreboard first taking advantage of a lead-off walk to Sara Kinch, as the sophomore fouled off four-straight pitches before earning the free base in the third. Pinch runner MacKenzie Denson created havoc on the bases as an errant throw by the Texas A&M catcher allowed her to reach third. She sprinted home and slid around the tag as Lauren Espalin hit an RBI groundout putting Minnesota in front, 1-0.
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The edge was short lived as a two-out rally from the Aggies evened the score, 1-1, getting a walk followed by two singles during the bottom of the frame. The designated home team threatened again in the fourth and loaded the bases on two, one-out singles and a two-out walk before sending a two-run single to center moving ahead, 3-1.
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Autumn Pease entered the game in relief for the fifth and quickly shut down the Aggies striking out the side for a much needed zero on the scoreboard. Minnesota's offense went dry late through the middle of the contest as 11-straight batters were retired before Ellee Jensen lifted a two-out single to left in the sixth. DenHartog added her second single of the day, chopping it over the head of the third baseman to put the potential tying run on base, but a strikeout stopped the rally as the deficit remained two. Texas A&M added two insurance runs in the sixth getting a home run stretching the lead to 5-1.
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The Gophers looked for the late rally in the seventh as Makenna Dowell reached via another Aggies error and pinch hitter Delanie Cox drew a one-out walk. Kayla Chavez laced a two-out single to right as Minnesota loaded the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, but could not extend the game and fell 5-1.
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Up Next
Minnesota continues its regional run Saturday at 3:30 p.m. facing the loser of the matchup between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 4 Prairie View A&M in an elimination game. Television and streaming information will be made available later this evening.
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The No. 3 seeded Golden Gophers (26-25-1 overall) scored the first run of the day and got two of their four hits from senior Natalie DenHartog. The Aggies responded by tallying the final five runs to advance into the winner's bracket of the double-elimination regional.
Â
DenHartog ripped a two-out single back up the middle in the first extending her streak of reaching base safely to 16 games. After recording a strikeout in a 1-2-3 frame to open the game, freshman Emily Leavitt struck out a pair in the second working around a lead-off single by the Aggies.
Â
The Gophers got on the scoreboard first taking advantage of a lead-off walk to Sara Kinch, as the sophomore fouled off four-straight pitches before earning the free base in the third. Pinch runner MacKenzie Denson created havoc on the bases as an errant throw by the Texas A&M catcher allowed her to reach third. She sprinted home and slid around the tag as Lauren Espalin hit an RBI groundout putting Minnesota in front, 1-0.
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The edge was short lived as a two-out rally from the Aggies evened the score, 1-1, getting a walk followed by two singles during the bottom of the frame. The designated home team threatened again in the fourth and loaded the bases on two, one-out singles and a two-out walk before sending a two-run single to center moving ahead, 3-1.
Â
Autumn Pease entered the game in relief for the fifth and quickly shut down the Aggies striking out the side for a much needed zero on the scoreboard. Minnesota's offense went dry late through the middle of the contest as 11-straight batters were retired before Ellee Jensen lifted a two-out single to left in the sixth. DenHartog added her second single of the day, chopping it over the head of the third baseman to put the potential tying run on base, but a strikeout stopped the rally as the deficit remained two. Texas A&M added two insurance runs in the sixth getting a home run stretching the lead to 5-1.
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The Gophers looked for the late rally in the seventh as Makenna Dowell reached via another Aggies error and pinch hitter Delanie Cox drew a one-out walk. Kayla Chavez laced a two-out single to right as Minnesota loaded the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, but could not extend the game and fell 5-1.
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Up Next
Minnesota continues its regional run Saturday at 3:30 p.m. facing the loser of the matchup between No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 4 Prairie View A&M in an elimination game. Television and streaming information will be made available later this evening.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kennedy, Emiley (12-11)
L: Leavitt, Emily (14-10)
Batting:
RBI: Espalin, Lauren 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Denson, MacKenzie 1
Batting:
2B: Wiggins, Rylen 1
3B: Wooley, Koko 1
HR: Uribe, Grace 1
RBI: Lee, Haley 2 ; Cannon, Trinity 1 ; Uribe, Grace 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Lee, Haley 1 ; Wooley, Koko 1 ; Baker, Cayden 2 ; Uribe, Grace 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
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