University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, May 7
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
26-22-1, 11-11
8
vs
0
Northwestern
38-9, 18-4
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4
5
R
H
E
Northwestern
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
Minnesota
1
3
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1
X
8
9
0
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Staying Golden; Minnesota Run Rules Northwestern, 8-0
5/7/2022 4:45:00 PM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota could not be contained scoring in all four innings of an 8-0 run-rule shutout against No. 6 Northwestern Saturday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
Lauren Espalin's home run to start the day kicked the offense into gear as the Golden Gophers (25-22-1 overall, 11-11 B1G) out-hit the B1G champion Wildcats, 9-3. Autumn Pease and Emily Leavitt limited the visitors to three hits and struck out five tossing a combined shutout for the second-straight day. Espalin went 2-for-3 on the day, while Delanie Cox joined her recording two RBI.
After Pease struck out two in a perfect opening frame, the Gophers pounced early as Espalin crushed the fourth pitch of the bottom of the first over the scoreboard in right field for a 1-0 edge. Minnesota used a pair of walks to put Megan Dray and Makenna Dowell on base opening the second and capitalized on a Northwestern error plating three runs. Sara Kinch brought a run home on a deep fly that was dropped before Kayla Chavez and Espalin delivered back-to-back RBI singles giving the home side a 4-0 advantage.
The Wildcats drew a walk and hit a single putting two on starting the third frame, but Pease emphatically slammed the door getting two pop ups and a swinging strikeout posting another zero on the scoreboard. The momentum stayed with the Gophers into the offensive side of the third striking for three runs on four hits.
Natalie DenHartog laced a single back up the middle on the first pitch of the inning and scored from second as Dray pulled a RBI single down the line in left. Dowell singled before Strelow was hit in the back with a pitch loading the bases with two outs. Delanie Cox stepped in as a pinch hitter and battled one of the nation's premier pitchers fouling off four-straight pitches until lifting a two-run single to left center as Minnesota stretched its lead to 7-0.
The defense came through with another stellar effort in the fourth as Emily Leavitt entered the game and retired Northwestern in order thanks to a gem by the left side of the infield. Ellee Jensen raced to first hitting an infield single and DenHartog fought back for a walk beginning the bottom of the fourth. A one-out walk to Dowell loaded the bases and Strelow added a two-out single bringing home Minnesota's eighth run of the contest.
A double play erased a lead-off single from the Wildcats as Leavitt shut down the visitors sealing the Gophers shutout, 8-0. Pease picked up the win allowing two hits in three innings and Leavitt gave up one hit in the final two frames.
Up Next
Minnesota will attempt to play its final game of the 2022 regular season Sunday at 3:30 p.m. hosting the Wildcats of Northwestern live on BTN. There is a significant chance of weather that can affect the status of the contest. Follow social media channels and GopherSports.com for all the latest information.
Lauren Espalin's home run to start the day kicked the offense into gear as the Golden Gophers (25-22-1 overall, 11-11 B1G) out-hit the B1G champion Wildcats, 9-3. Autumn Pease and Emily Leavitt limited the visitors to three hits and struck out five tossing a combined shutout for the second-straight day. Espalin went 2-for-3 on the day, while Delanie Cox joined her recording two RBI.
After Pease struck out two in a perfect opening frame, the Gophers pounced early as Espalin crushed the fourth pitch of the bottom of the first over the scoreboard in right field for a 1-0 edge. Minnesota used a pair of walks to put Megan Dray and Makenna Dowell on base opening the second and capitalized on a Northwestern error plating three runs. Sara Kinch brought a run home on a deep fly that was dropped before Kayla Chavez and Espalin delivered back-to-back RBI singles giving the home side a 4-0 advantage.
The Wildcats drew a walk and hit a single putting two on starting the third frame, but Pease emphatically slammed the door getting two pop ups and a swinging strikeout posting another zero on the scoreboard. The momentum stayed with the Gophers into the offensive side of the third striking for three runs on four hits.
Natalie DenHartog laced a single back up the middle on the first pitch of the inning and scored from second as Dray pulled a RBI single down the line in left. Dowell singled before Strelow was hit in the back with a pitch loading the bases with two outs. Delanie Cox stepped in as a pinch hitter and battled one of the nation's premier pitchers fouling off four-straight pitches until lifting a two-run single to left center as Minnesota stretched its lead to 7-0.
The defense came through with another stellar effort in the fourth as Emily Leavitt entered the game and retired Northwestern in order thanks to a gem by the left side of the infield. Ellee Jensen raced to first hitting an infield single and DenHartog fought back for a walk beginning the bottom of the fourth. A one-out walk to Dowell loaded the bases and Strelow added a two-out single bringing home Minnesota's eighth run of the contest.
A double play erased a lead-off single from the Wildcats as Leavitt shut down the visitors sealing the Gophers shutout, 8-0. Pease picked up the win allowing two hits in three innings and Leavitt gave up one hit in the final two frames.
Up Next
Minnesota will attempt to play its final game of the 2022 regular season Sunday at 3:30 p.m. hosting the Wildcats of Northwestern live on BTN. There is a significant chance of weather that can affect the status of the contest. Follow social media channels and GopherSports.com for all the latest information.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pease, Autumn (11-12)
L: Supple, Sydney (3-1)
Batting:
HR: Espalin, Lauren 1
RBI: Espalin, Lauren 2 ; Dray, Megan 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 1 ; Cox, Delanie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Espalin, Lauren 1 ; Jensen, Ellee 1 ; DenHartog, Natalie 1 ; Dray, Megan 2 ; Dowell, Makenna 1 ; Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Kinch, Sara 1
HBP: Strelow, Sydney 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC/1B
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballMinnesota (4) - Michigan (0) Highlights
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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