Gophers Pick Up Opening Day Sweep with 28 Runs over WKU, Butler

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GAME ONE
LEESBURG, Fla. - Minnesota received contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Golden Gophers put 10 runs on the board and take down the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 10-2 Friday.

Senior Autumn Pease (1-0) started in the circle and picked up the win for Minnesota (1-0). The right-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits, allowing one walk and striking out seven. Freshman Sydney Schwartz also made an impact in the circle for the Golden Gophers, throwing one scoreless inning while allowing no hits.

Offensively, the Gophers were led by sophomore Taylor Krapf, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a double, a triple and two RBI. Freshman Jess Oakland put together a noteworthy effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Senior Sydney Strelow also helped out for Minnesota, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and three RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Maroon and Gold put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Minnesota's offense started clicking and put up four runs, including a one-run walk off the bat of Oakland.

The Gophers then lost some of their lead, expanding on their advantage in the fourth inning after the Hilltoppers cut it to 4-1. The Minnesota offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Strelow, which brought the score to 8-1 in favor of the Golden Gophers.

Western Kentucky narrowed Minnesota's lead to 8-2 before the Gophers stretched the advantage to 10-2 in the sixth inning. The Gophers got run-scoring doubles from Krapf and sophomore Kayla Chavez to pick up a couple of runs. The score remained 10-2 for the rest of the game, as Minnesota coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Krapf had three hits in the game for Minnesota.
» Pease struck out seven Hilltopper hitters.
» The Gophers power output was led by Krapf, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed four runs across.
» The Gophers had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Hilltoppers 4-0 in the top of the second.
» The Maroon and Gold out-hit the Hilltoppers at a 10-6 clip.
» Senior Natalie DenHartog stole two bases in Friday's game.
» Minnesota went 6-for-12 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Western Kentucky to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 26 Western Kentucky hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and two fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Gophers drew seven walks from Western Kentucky pitching.
» Krapf led the Gophers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and two RBI.
» Western Kentucky was led offensively by senior Brylee Hage, who went 3-for-3.
» Sophomore Kelsie Houchens led the Hilltoppers pitching staff, throwing 2.2 innings of two-run ball.

GAME TWO
LEESBURG, Fla. - Sophomore Taylor Krapf collected five RBIs to help propel the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the Butler Bulldogs 18-2 on Friday.

Junior Jacie Hambrick (1-0) started in the circle and picked up the win for Minnesota (2-0). The right-hander went two shutout innings without giving up a hit, allowing no walks and striking out two.

Krapf went 2-for-4 with a home run in addition to her five RBIs for the Golden Gophers. Graduate Natalie DenHartog furnished a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and three RBI. Freshman Jess Oakland also chipped in for Minnesota, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk and four RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gophers got the scoring started early, putting three runs on the board in the bottom the first inning with the game still scoreless. Freshman Addison Leschber's bases-clearing double put all three runs on the board in the inning for Minnesota.

Minnesota then held the Bulldogs scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. The Gophers' offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Oakland, which brought Minnesota's lead to 7-0.

Butler narrowed Minnesota's lead to 7-2 before the Golden Gophers stretched the advantage to 10-2 in the third inning. The Golden Gophers notched three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-RBI double from DenHartog.

Minnesota held the Bulldogs scoreless before their offense got things moving the next inning. The Golden Gophers scored eight runs in the inning, highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Krapf, bringing the score to 18-2 in favor of Minnesota. The score remained 18-2 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Gophers coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Krapf and Oakland drove in at least four runs for Minnesota.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed eight runs across.
» Minnesota grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Five Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Gophers out-hit the Bulldogs at a 13-3 clip.
» Minnesota went 8-for-16 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» The Gophers got four hits in four at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Butler to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 22 Butler hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and three fly balls while striking out four.
» The Gophers drew seven walks from Butler pitching.
» Krapf led the Gophers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBI.
» Butler was led offensively by sophomore Ella White, who went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI.

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