University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, February 16
Clearwater, FL
11:30 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
Washington
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ SoftballP/INF
/ Softball
Photo by: CONNOR CUNNINGHAM
Gophers Take on Top Ranked Opponents at Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational
2/15/2024 10:19:00 AM | Softball
Minnesota will compete against the best down in the Sunshine State
GAME ONE
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #5/5 Washington (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
Date: Friday, Feb. 16
Time: 11:30 a.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME TWO
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs Georgia Tech (3-3, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 16
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME THREE
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #9/9 Stanford (3-2, 0-0 Pac-12)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #4/4 Georgia (5-0, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME FIVE
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #12/12 LSU (5-0, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 18
Time: 8:30 a.m. CT
Stream: SEC Network
Milestone Watch
Now in her fourth season leading the Maroon and Gold, Piper Ritter is just one win away from 100. After a successful weekend at the SDSU Invitational, Ritter has accumulated a 99-60-1 record. Her success as Minnesota's head coach also includes four consecutive post season bids and a third place finish in the Big Ten last season.
Jess is the Best
Last weekend in San Diego, Jess Oakland had an impressive opening weekend outing. In game one, Oakland launched two out of the park for the second time in her career. The short stop also set a high of five RBI against UCSB, surpassing her career high of four, which she set against Michigan last season.
Checking in With the Circle
Minnesota pitchers Bri Enter and Sydney Schwartz made their 2024 debut last weekend. Enter pitched 6.0 innings against San Diego State, tossing three K's and leading Minnesota to a 5-3 win over the 24th-ranked Aztecs. Despite falling to No. 3 Stanford, Schwartz kept the battle in the circle between the two teams until the sixth inning. Through 5.2 innings of work, Schwartz set a career high six K's on Saturday.
First Timers
Four freshmen made their first appearance in Maroon and Gold over the weekend. Macy Richardson, Lucy Hooper, and Cameron Grayson scored a combined four runs as pinch runners. Richardson also saw time in the circle in game one against UC Santa Barbara.
Hometown Heroes
Four Gophers will head to their home state this weekend. Both Breezy Burnett and Bri Enter hail from Jacksonville, Fla., while Taylor Krapf is a native of Oviedo, Fla.
Postseason Push
The 2023 season marked a historic milestone for the Minnesota softball program. It was the 10th-straight season that the Maroon and Gold reached the NCAA Tournament, making it the longest current active postseason streak in the Big Ten.
Battling the Best
Minnesota's schedule features a loaded slate of opponents. 13 teams made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, while eight finished in the NFCA Top 25 with four others receiving votes. Nine different states are featured including California, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.
Added Experience
In the off-season, the Maroon and Gold added two transfers to the 2024 roster in Cassie Lindmark and Morgan DeBord. Lindmark, a transfer catcher, from Penn State looks to add depth from behind the plate with her wealth of Big Ten softball experience. DeBord joined the Gophers after a successful career at Loyola Marymount. With the Lions, DeBord received All-WCC honors as a junior and senior.
In the Polls
Minnesota received votes in one of two major polls in the softball top 25. The ESPN.com/USA Today Week One Poll was released on Feb. 13, with the Golden Gophers receiving votes.
Nuthin' But a Sara 'G' Thang
Olympian and former Minnesota legend Sara Groenewegen was named an assistant coach for the Stanford softball program back in the fall. Groenewegen won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the first Olympic medal in softball in Canada's history. 'G,' a Minnesota standout on both sides of the ball, competed with the Golden Gophers from 2014-17. She racked up multiple awards during her time donning the Maroon and Gold, The 2014 Big Ten Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, she became the first three-time NFCA All-American in program history, earning first team nods as a junior and senior. The Big Ten Player of the Year in 2015, Groenewegen was a four-time All-Big Ten first team pick and helped the Gophers win three Big Ten Tournament titles, nabbing Most Outstanding Player honors in 2016 and 2017. She was also a three-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top-10 finalist.
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #5/5 Washington (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12)
Date: Friday, Feb. 16
Time: 11:30 a.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME TWO
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs Georgia Tech (3-3, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 16
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME THREE
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #9/9 Stanford (3-2, 0-0 Pac-12)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
Time: 12 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #4/4 Georgia (5-0, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 17
Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
GAME FIVE
Minnesota (3-2, 0-0 B1G) vs #12/12 LSU (5-0, 0-0 SEC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 18
Time: 8:30 a.m. CT
Stream: SEC Network
Milestone Watch
Now in her fourth season leading the Maroon and Gold, Piper Ritter is just one win away from 100. After a successful weekend at the SDSU Invitational, Ritter has accumulated a 99-60-1 record. Her success as Minnesota's head coach also includes four consecutive post season bids and a third place finish in the Big Ten last season.
Jess is the Best
Last weekend in San Diego, Jess Oakland had an impressive opening weekend outing. In game one, Oakland launched two out of the park for the second time in her career. The short stop also set a high of five RBI against UCSB, surpassing her career high of four, which she set against Michigan last season.
Checking in With the Circle
Minnesota pitchers Bri Enter and Sydney Schwartz made their 2024 debut last weekend. Enter pitched 6.0 innings against San Diego State, tossing three K's and leading Minnesota to a 5-3 win over the 24th-ranked Aztecs. Despite falling to No. 3 Stanford, Schwartz kept the battle in the circle between the two teams until the sixth inning. Through 5.2 innings of work, Schwartz set a career high six K's on Saturday.
First Timers
Four freshmen made their first appearance in Maroon and Gold over the weekend. Macy Richardson, Lucy Hooper, and Cameron Grayson scored a combined four runs as pinch runners. Richardson also saw time in the circle in game one against UC Santa Barbara.
Hometown Heroes
Four Gophers will head to their home state this weekend. Both Breezy Burnett and Bri Enter hail from Jacksonville, Fla., while Taylor Krapf is a native of Oviedo, Fla.
Postseason Push
The 2023 season marked a historic milestone for the Minnesota softball program. It was the 10th-straight season that the Maroon and Gold reached the NCAA Tournament, making it the longest current active postseason streak in the Big Ten.
Battling the Best
Minnesota's schedule features a loaded slate of opponents. 13 teams made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, while eight finished in the NFCA Top 25 with four others receiving votes. Nine different states are featured including California, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.
Added Experience
In the off-season, the Maroon and Gold added two transfers to the 2024 roster in Cassie Lindmark and Morgan DeBord. Lindmark, a transfer catcher, from Penn State looks to add depth from behind the plate with her wealth of Big Ten softball experience. DeBord joined the Gophers after a successful career at Loyola Marymount. With the Lions, DeBord received All-WCC honors as a junior and senior.
In the Polls
Minnesota received votes in one of two major polls in the softball top 25. The ESPN.com/USA Today Week One Poll was released on Feb. 13, with the Golden Gophers receiving votes.
Nuthin' But a Sara 'G' Thang
Olympian and former Minnesota legend Sara Groenewegen was named an assistant coach for the Stanford softball program back in the fall. Groenewegen won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – the first Olympic medal in softball in Canada's history. 'G,' a Minnesota standout on both sides of the ball, competed with the Golden Gophers from 2014-17. She racked up multiple awards during her time donning the Maroon and Gold, The 2014 Big Ten Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, she became the first three-time NFCA All-American in program history, earning first team nods as a junior and senior. The Big Ten Player of the Year in 2015, Groenewegen was a four-time All-Big Ten first team pick and helped the Gophers win three Big Ten Tournament titles, nabbing Most Outstanding Player honors in 2016 and 2017. She was also a three-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top-10 finalist.
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