University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 17
Chapel Hill, N.C.
4:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
North Carolina
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballINF
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/ SoftballP/INF
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/ Softball
Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Gophers Set Focus to ACC/Big Ten Challenge
2/15/2023 9:37:00 PM | Softball
Minnesota vs UNC Game OneMinnesota vs UNC Game TwoACC/Big Ten Challenge Tournament CentralACC/Big Ten Challenge Notes
Minnesota is set to participate in the sixth annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge
GAME ONE
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. North Carolina (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 17
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UNCSoftball
GAME TWO
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Virginia (4-1, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
Time: 9 a.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UVASoftball
GAME THREE
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. North Carolina (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UNCSoftball
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Virginia (4-1, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 19
Time: 9 a.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UVASoftball
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
Scouting North Carolina
North Carolina enters the Big Ten-ACC Challenge with a 3-2 record. Last weekend, the Tarheels participated in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. After winning two-straight over Cal Baptist and BYU, North Carolina fell to No. 25 Ole Miss and No. 3 Oklahoma State.
North Carolina defeated Elon on Wednesday night 9-5, thanks to a walk-off grand slam scored in the seventh inning. The win improves the Tarheels' record to 3-2 heading into the weekend.
Scouting Virginia
Before heading into the weekend, the Cavaliers have a mid-week face off with UNC Greensboro on Thursday evening. Virginia made their season debut at the University of Houston, grabbing four wins and a loss against Nebraska.
Running Up the Score
Minnesota's 4-1 opening weekend record was highlighted by 46 runs scored between five games. Despite a loss against Colgate, Minnesota went on to defeat Butler, Portland State, and Western Kentucky twice. Only allowing their opponents 13 total runs. The Maroon and Gold's 46 mark the most scored in an opening weekend (through the first five games) since the 2015 season, where they scored 50.
Fresh Faces
Multiple freshmen made an appearance for Minnesota. Addison Leschber, Jess Oakland, Breezy Burnett, and Sydney Schwartz all made their debuts. Leschber, Oakland, and Burnett all notched at least one start, while Schwartz made an appearance in both the circle and batting order.
Newcomers Shine
Newcomers Amani Bradley, Taylor Krapf, Reili Gardner, Bri Enter, and Jacie Hambrick saw the field for the first time as Golden Gophers over the weekend. Bradley and Krapf started and appeared in all five matchups, while Gardner made four appearances. Hambrick started against Butler and Colgate, with an appearance against Western Kentucky and added a 2-0 pitching performance to her resume.
Homers
Four Gophers had at least one home run between their first five games. Krapf and Oakland had two, while graduate Natalie DenHartog and senior Sydney Strelow each had one.
First of Many
For the first time in her career, infielder Jess Oakland has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Oakland led the team with 13 RBI on the weekend, collecting five extra base hits (eight total) and six runs, including two home runs which came against Colgate and Western Kentucky. Through five games, Oakland went 8-for-16, slugging 1.125 with a .619 on-base clip. This is Oakland's first Big Ten Weekly award of her career, and the first for Minnesota this season.
Holy Krapf!
In an impressive first weekend, sophomore transfer Taylor Krapf shined at the Northern Lights Tournament. Krapf collected a grand slam, two home runs, eight hits and nine RBI. The sophomore transfer hit .471 through five games, slugging 1.000 with a .526 on-base percentage.
On the Road Again
This weekend marks Minnesota's second-straight weekend on the road. After traveling to North Carolina this weekend, the Maroon and Gold will head to Texas, California and Kansas.
Gopher Indoor Classic
For the first time ever, Minnesota will host the Gopher Indoor Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium. NDSU, Central Michigan, Idaho State, Drake, and St. Thomas will all compete from March 10-12 between 15 games.
One of Our Own
Graduate outfielder, Natalie DenHartog, has been recognized amongst the best in the country. DenHartog has earned preseason awards from D1 Softball (Preseason Outfield Power Rankings No. 11, Preseason D100 Player No. 47), Softball America (2023 Preseason Top 100 No. 56), and Extra Inning Softball (Extra Elite 100 No. 40).
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. North Carolina (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 17
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UNCSoftball
GAME TWO
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Virginia (4-1, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
Time: 9 a.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UVASoftball
GAME THREE
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. North Carolina (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 18
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UNCSoftball
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. Virginia (4-1, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 19
Time: 9 a.m. CT
Location: Chapel Hill, N.C.
Site: Anderson Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @UVASoftball
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
Scouting North Carolina
North Carolina enters the Big Ten-ACC Challenge with a 3-2 record. Last weekend, the Tarheels participated in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. After winning two-straight over Cal Baptist and BYU, North Carolina fell to No. 25 Ole Miss and No. 3 Oklahoma State.
North Carolina defeated Elon on Wednesday night 9-5, thanks to a walk-off grand slam scored in the seventh inning. The win improves the Tarheels' record to 3-2 heading into the weekend.
Scouting Virginia
Before heading into the weekend, the Cavaliers have a mid-week face off with UNC Greensboro on Thursday evening. Virginia made their season debut at the University of Houston, grabbing four wins and a loss against Nebraska.
Running Up the Score
Minnesota's 4-1 opening weekend record was highlighted by 46 runs scored between five games. Despite a loss against Colgate, Minnesota went on to defeat Butler, Portland State, and Western Kentucky twice. Only allowing their opponents 13 total runs. The Maroon and Gold's 46 mark the most scored in an opening weekend (through the first five games) since the 2015 season, where they scored 50.
Fresh Faces
Multiple freshmen made an appearance for Minnesota. Addison Leschber, Jess Oakland, Breezy Burnett, and Sydney Schwartz all made their debuts. Leschber, Oakland, and Burnett all notched at least one start, while Schwartz made an appearance in both the circle and batting order.
Newcomers Shine
Newcomers Amani Bradley, Taylor Krapf, Reili Gardner, Bri Enter, and Jacie Hambrick saw the field for the first time as Golden Gophers over the weekend. Bradley and Krapf started and appeared in all five matchups, while Gardner made four appearances. Hambrick started against Butler and Colgate, with an appearance against Western Kentucky and added a 2-0 pitching performance to her resume.
Homers
Four Gophers had at least one home run between their first five games. Krapf and Oakland had two, while graduate Natalie DenHartog and senior Sydney Strelow each had one.
First of Many
For the first time in her career, infielder Jess Oakland has been named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. Oakland led the team with 13 RBI on the weekend, collecting five extra base hits (eight total) and six runs, including two home runs which came against Colgate and Western Kentucky. Through five games, Oakland went 8-for-16, slugging 1.125 with a .619 on-base clip. This is Oakland's first Big Ten Weekly award of her career, and the first for Minnesota this season.
Holy Krapf!
In an impressive first weekend, sophomore transfer Taylor Krapf shined at the Northern Lights Tournament. Krapf collected a grand slam, two home runs, eight hits and nine RBI. The sophomore transfer hit .471 through five games, slugging 1.000 with a .526 on-base percentage.
On the Road Again
This weekend marks Minnesota's second-straight weekend on the road. After traveling to North Carolina this weekend, the Maroon and Gold will head to Texas, California and Kansas.
Gopher Indoor Classic
For the first time ever, Minnesota will host the Gopher Indoor Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium. NDSU, Central Michigan, Idaho State, Drake, and St. Thomas will all compete from March 10-12 between 15 games.
One of Our Own
Graduate outfielder, Natalie DenHartog, has been recognized amongst the best in the country. DenHartog has earned preseason awards from D1 Softball (Preseason Outfield Power Rankings No. 11, Preseason D100 Player No. 47), Softball America (2023 Preseason Top 100 No. 56), and Extra Inning Softball (Extra Elite 100 No. 40).
Minnesota (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