University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
7-7
Fordham
4-9
Minnesota Topples Fordham, Falls to No. 16/14 Kentucky
3/2/2024 5:57:00 PM | Softball
The Gophers split in Charlotte
GAME ONE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Sophomore Jess Oakland put together a stellar showing at the plate Saturday, hitting two home runs to help propel the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the Fordham Rams 10-4.
Sophomore Sydney Schwartz (3-2) got the win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (7-7). The right-hander went four innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on four hits, allowing two walks and striking out three. Senior Jacie Hambrick also pitched well, going two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking one and striking out one.
Oakland went 2-for-3 at the plate, supplementing her two home runs with four RBIs. Senior Maddy Ehlke added to Oakland's awesome power-hitting performance by going 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI. Sophomore Breezy Burnett also helped out for the Golden Gophers, going 3-for-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got the scoring started early, putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Minnesota plated two runs when Oakland left the yard with senior Sydney Strelow aboard.
The Rams then tied the ballgame at two before the Golden Gophers came back to reclaim their advantage in the third inning. Minnesota scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Ehlke, scoring Strelow and Oakland, which brought the Golden Gophers lead to 5-2.
Fordham narrowed Minnesota's lead to 5-4 before the Golden Gophers stretched the advantage to 7-4 in the fifth inning. The Golden Gophers notched two runs when a single from Ehlke brought home Strelow and Oakland.
Minnesota kept the Rams without a run before building on their lead in the seventh inning. The three-run fram for the Golden Gophers was puncuated by a two-run homer from Oakland. bringing the score to 10-4 in favor of Minnesota. The score remained 10-4 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Gophers coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Golden Gophers got two home runs off the bat of Oakland.
» Minnesota got three-hit games from both Burnett and Ehlke.
» The Golden Gophers power output was led by Oakland, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Ehlke and Oakland drove in at least four runs for Minnesota.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed three runs across.
» Minnesota took a 2-2 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Four Golden Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Minnesota hitters hit three homers in the ballgame.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Rams at a 12-7 clip.
» Burnett stole two bases in Saturday's game.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Fordham to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 31 Fordham hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out five.
» The Golden Gophers drew four walks from Fordham pitching.
» Oakland led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI.
» Fordham was led offensively by senior Bailey Enoch, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
» Freshman Olivia Simcoe led the Rams pitching staff, throwing one inning of three-run ball.
GAME TWO
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Minnesota Golden Gophers were not able to notch a run against Kentucky pitcher senior Stephanie Schoonover on Saturday and were shut out 8-0 by the Wildcats.
Senior Jacie Hambrick (0-2) started and took the loss in the circle for Minnesota (7-8).
Sophomore Breezy Burnett led the way offensively for the Golden Gophers, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Minnesota managed one chance with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The Golden Gophers last got a runner on third in the fourth, when sophomore Jess Oakland made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out.
GAME NOTES
» Minnesota pitchers limited Kentucky to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 29 Kentucky hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» Burnett led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-3.
» Kentucky was led offensively by senior Grace Lorsung, who went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and an RBI.
» Schoonover led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing six scoreless innings.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stephanie Schoonover (7-1)
L: Hambrick, Jacie (0-2)
Base Running:
CS: DeBord, Morgan 1
HBP: Krapf, Taylor 2
Batting:
2B: Karissa Hamilton 1
3B: Grace Lorsung 1
HR: Erin Coffel 1 ; Rylea Smith 1 ; Grace Lorsung 1 ; Peyton Plotts 1
RBI: Erin Coffel 2 ; Rylea Smith 2 ; Karissa Hamilton 1 ; Grace Lorsung 1 ; Peyton Plotts 1
SH: Delani Sullivan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Erin Coffel 2 ; Rylea Smith 1 ; Emory Donaldson 1 ; Grace Lorsung 2 ; Peyton Plotts 1 ; Margaret Tobias 1
SB: Rylea Smith 1
