University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 15
Columbia, SC
11:30 AM
University of Minnesota
vs
Boston University
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
Minnesota Travels to South Carolina for Garnet and Black Invitational
3/14/2024 9:30:00 AM | Softball
The Golden Gophers will face five strong opponents in Columbia, S.C.
GAME ONE
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs No.24/RV Boston University (17-1, 0-0 Patriot League)
Date: Friday, March 15
Time: 11:30 a.m. CT
GAME TWO
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs Michigan State (11-10, 0-0 B1G)
Date: Friday, March 15
Time: 2 p.m. CT
GAME THREE
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs NC State (14-18, 1-5 ACC)
Date: Saturday, March 16
Time: 2 p.m. CT
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs No. 23/22 South Carolina (18-5, 0-3 SEC)
Date: Saturday, March 16
Time: 4:30 p.m. CT
Stream: SEC Network+
GAME FIVE
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs Northwestern (8-6, 0-0 B1G)
Date: Sunday, March 17
Time: 11:30 a.m. CT
Tracking the Terriers
With an almost perfect record, the 17-1 Terriers entered this week's major polls at No. 24 in the NFCA coaches poll and received votes in the ESPN/USA Today rankings. The reining 2023 Patriot League champions only loss came from No. 6/8 Duke back in February. This season, they've won nine Patriot League weekly awards, along with one NFCA and D1 Softball Pitcher of the Week award in Kasey Ricard on Feb. 20.
Tracking the Spartans
11-10 on the season, the Spartans had a winning weekend down at Coastal Carolina last week going 3-1. Senior pitcher Liv Grey earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week accolades, she went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Through 16.2 innings pitched, she held batters to a 0.084 average while striking out 28 batters. The award is Michigan State's third of the season, marking the most by the conference since 2008.
Tracking the Wolfpack
NC State is Minnesota's third opponent of the weekend at the Red and Garnet Invitational. 15-8 with a 1-5 conference record, they're led by Taylor Ensley, who leads with seven home runs, 12 extra base hits with a .377 average. Before playing the Golden Gophers, NC State will compete against Big Ten foes Northwestern and Michigan State.
Tracking the Gamecocks
Pulling in at No. 22/23 in the major polls this week, South Carolina looks to their fifth series at home this season. The Gamecocks and Golden Gophers have only competed against each other twice, with South Carolina leading 2-0. The last time they met was in 1992, the Gamecocks won 3-0 in College Station, Texas.
Tracking the Wildcats
This weekend marks the only meeting between Minnesota and Northwestern during the 2024 season, as the opponents won't meet during conference play. Last year, Minnesota traveled to Evanston and lost the series, 3-0. Notably, Breezy Burnett's first at bat took place during the series last season, hitting a grand slam against the Wildcats.
Stellar Shortstop
After a stellar performance last week through four games, sophomore shortstop Jess Oakland earned NFCA Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
Oakland averaged .600 through 10 plate appearances, slugging 2.200%. The sophomore went yard five times in four games, including back-to-back two home run outings against Fordham on March 1st and 2nd.
Notably, she led Minnesota and the Big Ten with 11 RBI and five home runs. The shortstop also tacked on one double with five walks.
This is the first time a Minnesota player has won the accolade since Sara Groenewegen on May 5, 2015.
Cha Cha on the Rise
Junior third baseman Kayla Chavez kept her bat hot last week. The Chino Hills, Calif., native recorded 10 hits, five runs, and three RBI. Notably, she recorded four multiple hit games including a season high streak of six (3/3-3/8).
The Grad is Alright!
Graduate transfer Morgan DeBord led the offense, averaging .471 with eight runs on eight hits. The center fielder also picked up three extra base hits.
Big Dubs
The Golden Gophers picked up their highest ranked win since 2022 last week over No. 10 Clemson. Minnesota last defeated No. 6 Northwestern in two-out-of-three games in 2022 to win the series over the Wildcats.
Gophers Live on BTN!
The University of Minnesota softball team will be broadcast on Big Ten Network six times during the 2024 season, the conference announced on Wednesday.
The Golden Gophers will be live from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium against Ohio State (April 7), Wisconsin (April 17), and Nebraska (May 3-5). One game will be broadcast on the road, against Indiana in Bloomington (April12).
All other regular season home and conference games can be streamed on B1G+.
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs No.24/RV Boston University (17-1, 0-0 Patriot League)
Date: Friday, March 15
Time: 11:30 a.m. CT
GAME TWO
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs Michigan State (11-10, 0-0 B1G)
Date: Friday, March 15
Time: 2 p.m. CT
GAME THREE
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs NC State (14-18, 1-5 ACC)
Date: Saturday, March 16
Time: 2 p.m. CT
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs No. 23/22 South Carolina (18-5, 0-3 SEC)
Date: Saturday, March 16
Time: 4:30 p.m. CT
Stream: SEC Network+
GAME FIVE
Minnesota (13-9), 0-0 B1G vs Northwestern (8-6, 0-0 B1G)
Date: Sunday, March 17
Time: 11:30 a.m. CT
Tracking the Terriers
With an almost perfect record, the 17-1 Terriers entered this week's major polls at No. 24 in the NFCA coaches poll and received votes in the ESPN/USA Today rankings. The reining 2023 Patriot League champions only loss came from No. 6/8 Duke back in February. This season, they've won nine Patriot League weekly awards, along with one NFCA and D1 Softball Pitcher of the Week award in Kasey Ricard on Feb. 20.
Tracking the Spartans
11-10 on the season, the Spartans had a winning weekend down at Coastal Carolina last week going 3-1. Senior pitcher Liv Grey earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week accolades, she went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Through 16.2 innings pitched, she held batters to a 0.084 average while striking out 28 batters. The award is Michigan State's third of the season, marking the most by the conference since 2008.
Tracking the Wolfpack
NC State is Minnesota's third opponent of the weekend at the Red and Garnet Invitational. 15-8 with a 1-5 conference record, they're led by Taylor Ensley, who leads with seven home runs, 12 extra base hits with a .377 average. Before playing the Golden Gophers, NC State will compete against Big Ten foes Northwestern and Michigan State.
Tracking the Gamecocks
Pulling in at No. 22/23 in the major polls this week, South Carolina looks to their fifth series at home this season. The Gamecocks and Golden Gophers have only competed against each other twice, with South Carolina leading 2-0. The last time they met was in 1992, the Gamecocks won 3-0 in College Station, Texas.
Tracking the Wildcats
This weekend marks the only meeting between Minnesota and Northwestern during the 2024 season, as the opponents won't meet during conference play. Last year, Minnesota traveled to Evanston and lost the series, 3-0. Notably, Breezy Burnett's first at bat took place during the series last season, hitting a grand slam against the Wildcats.
Stellar Shortstop
After a stellar performance last week through four games, sophomore shortstop Jess Oakland earned NFCA Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
Oakland averaged .600 through 10 plate appearances, slugging 2.200%. The sophomore went yard five times in four games, including back-to-back two home run outings against Fordham on March 1st and 2nd.
Notably, she led Minnesota and the Big Ten with 11 RBI and five home runs. The shortstop also tacked on one double with five walks.
This is the first time a Minnesota player has won the accolade since Sara Groenewegen on May 5, 2015.
Cha Cha on the Rise
Junior third baseman Kayla Chavez kept her bat hot last week. The Chino Hills, Calif., native recorded 10 hits, five runs, and three RBI. Notably, she recorded four multiple hit games including a season high streak of six (3/3-3/8).
The Grad is Alright!
Graduate transfer Morgan DeBord led the offense, averaging .471 with eight runs on eight hits. The center fielder also picked up three extra base hits.
Big Dubs
The Golden Gophers picked up their highest ranked win since 2022 last week over No. 10 Clemson. Minnesota last defeated No. 6 Northwestern in two-out-of-three games in 2022 to win the series over the Wildcats.
Gophers Live on BTN!
The University of Minnesota softball team will be broadcast on Big Ten Network six times during the 2024 season, the conference announced on Wednesday.
The Golden Gophers will be live from Jane Sage Cowles Stadium against Ohio State (April 7), Wisconsin (April 17), and Nebraska (May 3-5). One game will be broadcast on the road, against Indiana in Bloomington (April12).
All other regular season home and conference games can be streamed on B1G+.
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