University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, May 4
1:00 PM
University of Minnesota
23-22-1, 8-11
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Wisconsin
27-14, 12-7
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Wisconsin
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
'U' Pitchers Dominate Doubleheader Sweep of Badgers
5/4/2022 6:15:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota softball used a dominant effort in the circle striking out 26 to complete a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin, 1-0 and 4-2, in a Border Battle at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium Wednesday. Emily Leavitt earned the win in both games allowing just two runs across 10 innings of work with 16 strikeouts, while Autumn Pease fanned 10 in four innings.
The Golden Gophers (24-22-1 overall, 9-11 B1G) got a pinch-hit, walk-off double from Delanie Cox to take the opener, 1-0, behind 16 combined strikeouts from the pitching staff. After scoring the winning run of game one, it was MacKenzie Denson's two-RBI single that helped the home side during a 4-2 win in game two.
Game One
Minnesota's pitching carried the team to a 1-0, two-hit shutout against its rival as Pease and Leavitt combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts. Cox provided the heroics in the bottom of the seventh lacing a pinch-hit double to left scoring pinch runner Denson from first base giving the Gophers the walk-off victory.
After striking out the side to start the day, Pease added two more punch outs in the second and retired all three in the third via swinging K's working around a lead-off single. She continued her dominant performance in the circle recording a pair of strikeouts in the fourth matching her career high with 10 on the day against just 13 batters.
Natalie DenHartog drew a walk opening the second inning and Sydney Strelow followed with a single, but the Badgers were able to turn a double play and escape the inning scoreless. A two-out walk for Lauren Espalin during the third was all the Gophers could produce over the next two frames as the pitcher's duel continued.
Leavitt carried the pitching trend into the fifth as the freshman took over in the circle and fanned all three Wisconsin batters. Minnesota got a two-out single in the bottom half of the fifth off the bat of Megan Dray before the visitors stopped the inning. Leavitt got the offense back onto the field quickly as she struck out two in the sixth around a liner.
Ellee Jensen ripped a one-out double to the gap in right center and Chloe Evans lined a single to right on the next pitch as the Gophers put runners on the corners threatening in the sixth. Evans swiped second base and DenHartog drew her second walk of the contest loading the bases but all three were stranded as the Badgers retired the next two hitters and the 0-0 tie extended into the seventh.
The visitors hit a two-out, two-strike single in the seventh, stopping a stretch of 14-straight batters retired by the Gophers pitchers, and Leavitt ended the frame on another strikeout. Dray sent a single back up the middle with one out in the bottom of the seventh and Denson entered as a runner with Cox stepping to the plate. The junior lifted a double to left allowing Denson to sprint around the bases for the winning run.
Game Two
The Gophers built a three-run advantage over the Badgers highlighted by Denson's two-run single in the fifth that gave starting pitcher Leavitt all the offensive support she needed in a 4-2 win. Leavitt recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts and gave up seven hits in the complete game securing the mid-week sweep.
Following a fantastic finish to the opener, Leavitt remained in command through the early portion of game two striking out six in three scoreless innings and stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first two frames.
Makenna Dowell opened the bottom of the third flaring a single behind the second-base bag and Kayla Chavez lined a double off the wall in left center plating the first run of the game. Espalin followed by turning on an inside pitch for a single to right, one of her two hits in the contest, and the Gophers put runners on the corners without any outs recorded. After a one-out walk to Strelow loaded the bases, the Badgers navigated their way out of the inning as Minnesota jumped to a 1-0 lead.
The home side's defense delivered another quick half inning and Dray came through as the senior waited on a changeup and launched a solo home run to left pushing the margin to 2-0. The visitors answered back with a two-out rally in the fifth using two hits and a hit-by-pitch loading the bases before a walk broke the shutout. Leavitt limited the damage and shut the door with a strikeout keeping the edge, 2-1.
Evans and DenHartog opened the fifth hitting singles and moved into scoring position as Strelow dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Both runners scampered home as Denson laced a single off the third baseman and Minnesota stretched its advantage to 4-1. The Badgers got a run back in the sixth as a lead-off triple scored on a wild pitch cutting the gap, but Leavitt left two on base getting out of the jam. The Chino, Calif., native closed out her second win of the day in complete game fashion, 4-2.
Up Next
Minnesota plays its final series of the 2022 regular season against Big Ten Conference-leading Northwestern May 6-8. All three games will be available on national television on ESPN2 Friday and BTN Saturday and Sunday.
The Golden Gophers (24-22-1 overall, 9-11 B1G) got a pinch-hit, walk-off double from Delanie Cox to take the opener, 1-0, behind 16 combined strikeouts from the pitching staff. After scoring the winning run of game one, it was MacKenzie Denson's two-RBI single that helped the home side during a 4-2 win in game two.
Game One
Minnesota's pitching carried the team to a 1-0, two-hit shutout against its rival as Pease and Leavitt combined for a season-high 16 strikeouts. Cox provided the heroics in the bottom of the seventh lacing a pinch-hit double to left scoring pinch runner Denson from first base giving the Gophers the walk-off victory.
After striking out the side to start the day, Pease added two more punch outs in the second and retired all three in the third via swinging K's working around a lead-off single. She continued her dominant performance in the circle recording a pair of strikeouts in the fourth matching her career high with 10 on the day against just 13 batters.
Natalie DenHartog drew a walk opening the second inning and Sydney Strelow followed with a single, but the Badgers were able to turn a double play and escape the inning scoreless. A two-out walk for Lauren Espalin during the third was all the Gophers could produce over the next two frames as the pitcher's duel continued.
Leavitt carried the pitching trend into the fifth as the freshman took over in the circle and fanned all three Wisconsin batters. Minnesota got a two-out single in the bottom half of the fifth off the bat of Megan Dray before the visitors stopped the inning. Leavitt got the offense back onto the field quickly as she struck out two in the sixth around a liner.
Ellee Jensen ripped a one-out double to the gap in right center and Chloe Evans lined a single to right on the next pitch as the Gophers put runners on the corners threatening in the sixth. Evans swiped second base and DenHartog drew her second walk of the contest loading the bases but all three were stranded as the Badgers retired the next two hitters and the 0-0 tie extended into the seventh.
The visitors hit a two-out, two-strike single in the seventh, stopping a stretch of 14-straight batters retired by the Gophers pitchers, and Leavitt ended the frame on another strikeout. Dray sent a single back up the middle with one out in the bottom of the seventh and Denson entered as a runner with Cox stepping to the plate. The junior lifted a double to left allowing Denson to sprint around the bases for the winning run.
Game Two
The Gophers built a three-run advantage over the Badgers highlighted by Denson's two-run single in the fifth that gave starting pitcher Leavitt all the offensive support she needed in a 4-2 win. Leavitt recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts and gave up seven hits in the complete game securing the mid-week sweep.
Following a fantastic finish to the opener, Leavitt remained in command through the early portion of game two striking out six in three scoreless innings and stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first two frames.
Makenna Dowell opened the bottom of the third flaring a single behind the second-base bag and Kayla Chavez lined a double off the wall in left center plating the first run of the game. Espalin followed by turning on an inside pitch for a single to right, one of her two hits in the contest, and the Gophers put runners on the corners without any outs recorded. After a one-out walk to Strelow loaded the bases, the Badgers navigated their way out of the inning as Minnesota jumped to a 1-0 lead.
The home side's defense delivered another quick half inning and Dray came through as the senior waited on a changeup and launched a solo home run to left pushing the margin to 2-0. The visitors answered back with a two-out rally in the fifth using two hits and a hit-by-pitch loading the bases before a walk broke the shutout. Leavitt limited the damage and shut the door with a strikeout keeping the edge, 2-1.
Evans and DenHartog opened the fifth hitting singles and moved into scoring position as Strelow dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Both runners scampered home as Denson laced a single off the third baseman and Minnesota stretched its advantage to 4-1. The Badgers got a run back in the sixth as a lead-off triple scored on a wild pitch cutting the gap, but Leavitt left two on base getting out of the jam. The Chino, Calif., native closed out her second win of the day in complete game fashion, 4-2.
Up Next
Minnesota plays its final series of the 2022 regular season against Big Ten Conference-leading Northwestern May 6-8. All three games will be available on national television on ESPN2 Friday and BTN Saturday and Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leavitt, Emily (12-9)
L: Schwartz, Maddie (22-7)
Batting:
2B: Jensen, Ellee 1 ; Cox, Delanie 1
RBI: Cox, Delanie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Denson, MacKenzie 1
SB: Evans, Chloe 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
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H
2
RBI
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AB
3
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H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
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0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/1B
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUT
/ SoftballOF
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RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ 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