Leavitt Throws Three-Hit Shutout of Northwestern in 8-0 Win

Upcoming Events

Schedule

No upcoming events at this time

MINNEAPOLIS - Friday belonged to the Golden Gophers as Emily Leavitt tossed a three-hit shutout and Sara Kinch delivered three RBI in an 8-0 run-rule victory in five innings over No. 6 Northwestern Friday from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

Minnesota (25-22-1 overall, 10-11 B1G) belted 10 hits with six free bases and threatened in every inning on its way to the series-opening win. Natalie DenHartog scored three times, including the winning run on a walk-off single by Chloe Evans securing the top-10 victory and eighth-straight win over Northwestern.

Both teams put a runner into scoring position in the first before the pitchers ended a scoreless opening frame. Lauren Espalin led the Gophers half of the inning as she ripped a ground-rule double to the gap in right center and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. She attempted to score on a squeeze bunt, but the visitors made the play at home and kept the home side off the scoreboard for the only frame Friday.

Megan Dray and Sydney Strelow were hit by pitches around a single from Makenna Dowell to load the bases without an out recorded in the second. Kinch lifted a sacrifice fly into deep left to plate the first run of the day and an errant throw allowed another run to score later during the frame as the Gophers jumped to a 2-0 advantage.

After the defense stranded two Northwestern runners on base, Minnesota used a single from DenHartog to open the bottom of the third and loaded the bases again taking advantage of more hit batters. Evans and Dowell were both beaned and Kinch made the Wildcats pay sending a bases-clearing single to center stretching the margin to 5-0. Kayla Chavez continued the two-out rally hitting a single and Northwestern made an early pitching change to get out of the inning.

Thanks to some slick glove work, Dowell came through on the defensive side with a web gem and Leavitt pitched around a pair of Northwestern singles for another scoreless inning in the fourth. The Gophers got back-to-back singles with one out from DenHartog and Evans and put runners on all the bases when Dowell reached for the third time in the contest with a four-pitch walk. Two runs came home as Strelow dropped in a single to center pushing the Gophers in front, 7-0.

Leavitt forced three ground ball outs during the fifth inning giving up just a two-out single setting up the heroics by the offense. Ellee Jensen drew a one-out walk and DenHartog swapped places with her on a grounder. DenHartog stole second as Evans worked a full count before lacing a single through the left side that gave the senior a chance to beat the throw and slide home safely for the winning run.

Kinch went 2-for-2 at the plate and tallied three RBI, while Evans and Dowell each reached base three times as the offense got hits from seven different players tagging Danielle Williams (24-3) with just her third loss of the season. Leavitt (14-9) was at her best limiting the Wildcats to three hits and struck out five completing her second collegiate shutout.

Up Next
The Gophers and Wildcats continue the weekend series live on BTN Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. It will be "Bark in the Park" Day at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium as fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the ballpark.

Upcoming Events