University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 31
Minneapolis, Minn.
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Penn State
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Golden Gophers Host Penn State in Home Opener
3/29/2023 1:09:00 PM | Softball
Minnesota will take on Penn State in three games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
GAME ONE
Minnesota (19-13, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (19-6, 1-2 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, March 31
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @PennStateSB
GAME TWO
Minnesota (19-13, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (19-6, 1-2 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, April 1
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @PennStateSB
GAME THREE
Minnesota (19-13, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (19-6, 1-2 Big Ten)
Date: Sunday, April 2
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @PennStateSB
MINNEAPOLIS – For the first time this season, the Golden Gophers will return home to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium for their home opener against the Penn State Nittany Lions over a three game series.
Game one is set for Friday at 12 p.m., while Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. The series closes at noon on Sunday, all times are central. The Minnesota-Penn State series can be streamed live on B1G+.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
Scouting Penn State
After losing its first conference series against Iowa, 1-2, the Nittany Lions come to Minneapolis sitting at eighth in the Big Ten standings and 19-6 on the year. Penn State is led offensively by Emily Maddock (.483), Kaitlyn Morrison (.385), and Lexie Black (.378). Penn State's pitching staff have picked up multiple Big Ten Weekly Awards this season, Bailey Parshall (Pitcher of the Week, Feb. 20 and March 6) and Paige Maynard (Freshman of the Week, Feb. 20). Parshall leads the circle with a 1.31 ERA and 12-5 record with 103 strikeouts.
Last Time Out
The last time the two teams met was during the 2021 season at Penn State in University Park. The Golden Gophers took the series, 3-1, and outscored the Nittany Lions 23-7 over four games. Notably, Natalie DenHartog hit two home runs against Penn State and scored nine of the 23 runs.
Weekend Recap
It was a weekend of memorable moments in Evanston for two Golden Gophers. In her first Big Ten at bat, freshman Breezy Burnett hit a grand slam in game one of the series against Northwestern. Burnett has made 20 starts and 30 appearances this season, going .280 and is slugging .620.
Hitting her 10th home run of the season was sophomore catcher Taylor Krapf. In game one of the series, Krapf went 2-for-4 at the plate and sailed one out to left field during her third at bat.
Nat at the Top
Minnesota's all-time home runs leader, Natalie DenHartog, has continued to climb the ranks this season at the plate. The graduate has amassed 65 home runs in her career and is currently tied for second overall in the Big Ten and third overall in the NCAA. DenHartog needs to leave the yard one more time to take sole possession of second overall in the Big Ten and 17 more to be the conference's all-time leader. Nationally, the Hopkins, Minn., native needs six more to be ranked second in the category.
Holy Krapf!
In her first season donning the Maroona and Gold, transfer catcher Taylor Krapf has made an impact for the Golden Gophers. She currently leads Minnesota in six categories (batting .367, slugging .767, 33 hits, 28 RBI, 10 home runs, 69 total bases). Krapf's slugging percentage is good enough for third in the Big Ten, while the sophomore is fourth overall in home runs this season.
Offensive Leaders
Amongst the 14 schools in the Big Ten, Minnesota is the best when it comes to home runs. Ranked No. 1 in the conference and 17th nationally in home runs per game, 10 Golden Gophers have left the yard at least once this season. Krapf (10 HRs, 4th B1G), Jess Oakland ( seven HRs, 6th B1G), and DenHartog (seven HR, 7th B1G) all lead the conference individually.
In the Circle
Fifth year, Autumn Pease, has been a standout in the circle for Minnesota. Pease leads the Big Ten and is seeded eighth nationally for batters struck out (141) and is second best in the Big Ten for innings pitched (109.2) . The Murireta, Calif., native holds a 12-5 record going into the home opener against Penn State.
Weekend Promos
This weekend, fans and students are encouraged to come out to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium to cheer on the Gophers! Students receive free pizza on Saturday and on Sunday, there will be a hot chocolate giveaway for all fans (while supplies last).
Up Next
The Golden Gophers will stay home next weekend to continue conference play against Indiana. Minnesota will face the Hoosiers on Friday, April 7 at 5 p.m., Saturday, April 8 at 5 p.m., and Sunday April 9 at noon. All times are central.
Minnesota (19-13, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (19-6, 1-2 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, March 31
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @PennStateSB
GAME TWO
Minnesota (19-13, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (19-6, 1-2 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, April 1
Time: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @PennStateSB
GAME THREE
Minnesota (19-13, 0-3 Big Ten) vs. Penn State (19-6, 1-2 Big Ten)
Date: Sunday, April 2
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn.
Site: Jane Sage Cowles Stadium
Twitter: @GopherSoftball, @PennStateSB
MINNEAPOLIS – For the first time this season, the Golden Gophers will return home to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium for their home opener against the Penn State Nittany Lions over a three game series.
Game one is set for Friday at 12 p.m., while Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m. The series closes at noon on Sunday, all times are central. The Minnesota-Penn State series can be streamed live on B1G+.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
Scouting Penn State
After losing its first conference series against Iowa, 1-2, the Nittany Lions come to Minneapolis sitting at eighth in the Big Ten standings and 19-6 on the year. Penn State is led offensively by Emily Maddock (.483), Kaitlyn Morrison (.385), and Lexie Black (.378). Penn State's pitching staff have picked up multiple Big Ten Weekly Awards this season, Bailey Parshall (Pitcher of the Week, Feb. 20 and March 6) and Paige Maynard (Freshman of the Week, Feb. 20). Parshall leads the circle with a 1.31 ERA and 12-5 record with 103 strikeouts.
Last Time Out
The last time the two teams met was during the 2021 season at Penn State in University Park. The Golden Gophers took the series, 3-1, and outscored the Nittany Lions 23-7 over four games. Notably, Natalie DenHartog hit two home runs against Penn State and scored nine of the 23 runs.
Weekend Recap
It was a weekend of memorable moments in Evanston for two Golden Gophers. In her first Big Ten at bat, freshman Breezy Burnett hit a grand slam in game one of the series against Northwestern. Burnett has made 20 starts and 30 appearances this season, going .280 and is slugging .620.
Hitting her 10th home run of the season was sophomore catcher Taylor Krapf. In game one of the series, Krapf went 2-for-4 at the plate and sailed one out to left field during her third at bat.
Nat at the Top
Minnesota's all-time home runs leader, Natalie DenHartog, has continued to climb the ranks this season at the plate. The graduate has amassed 65 home runs in her career and is currently tied for second overall in the Big Ten and third overall in the NCAA. DenHartog needs to leave the yard one more time to take sole possession of second overall in the Big Ten and 17 more to be the conference's all-time leader. Nationally, the Hopkins, Minn., native needs six more to be ranked second in the category.
Holy Krapf!
In her first season donning the Maroona and Gold, transfer catcher Taylor Krapf has made an impact for the Golden Gophers. She currently leads Minnesota in six categories (batting .367, slugging .767, 33 hits, 28 RBI, 10 home runs, 69 total bases). Krapf's slugging percentage is good enough for third in the Big Ten, while the sophomore is fourth overall in home runs this season.
Offensive Leaders
Amongst the 14 schools in the Big Ten, Minnesota is the best when it comes to home runs. Ranked No. 1 in the conference and 17th nationally in home runs per game, 10 Golden Gophers have left the yard at least once this season. Krapf (10 HRs, 4th B1G), Jess Oakland ( seven HRs, 6th B1G), and DenHartog (seven HR, 7th B1G) all lead the conference individually.
In the Circle
Fifth year, Autumn Pease, has been a standout in the circle for Minnesota. Pease leads the Big Ten and is seeded eighth nationally for batters struck out (141) and is second best in the Big Ten for innings pitched (109.2) . The Murireta, Calif., native holds a 12-5 record going into the home opener against Penn State.
Weekend Promos
This weekend, fans and students are encouraged to come out to Jane Sage Cowles Stadium to cheer on the Gophers! Students receive free pizza on Saturday and on Sunday, there will be a hot chocolate giveaway for all fans (while supplies last).
Up Next
The Golden Gophers will stay home next weekend to continue conference play against Indiana. Minnesota will face the Hoosiers on Friday, April 7 at 5 p.m., Saturday, April 8 at 5 p.m., and Sunday April 9 at noon. All times are central.
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Sydney Schwartz Throws No-Hitter
Tuesday, April 29
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Sunday, April 27
Gophers (5) - North Dakota (3) Highlights
Saturday, April 26