University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
11-8
Clemson
13-6
Minnesota Splits with No. 10/11 Clemson
3/7/2024 8:34:00 PM | Softball
The Golden Gophers split with the top ranked Tigers on Thursday night
GAME 1 | Minnesota 5, No. 10 Clemson 3
CLEMSON, SC -Â The Minnesota Golden Gophers needed nine innings to finish the job, but pulled off the 5-3 extra-innings victory over the No. 10 Clemson Tigers Thursday.
Senior Bri Enter (6-3) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Minnesota (11-8). The right-hander went five shutout innings while giving up three hits, allowing four walks and striking out three.
In the batter's box, the Golden Gophers were led by junior Taylor Krapf, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a walk and two RBI. Junior Kayla Chavez put together a standout effort as well, going 3-for-5. Sophomore Jess Oakland also chipped in for Minnesota, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding two walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Senior Sydney Strelow came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minnesota and get them on the board.
After the Tigers rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Golden Gophers came back to retake the lead in the third inning. Chavez came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minnesota, which brought the Golden Gophers lead to 2-1.
Minnesota's lead had disappeared by the time the seventh inning came around and turned into a 3-2 Clemson advantage, when the Golden Gophers tied up the game at three. The Golden Gophers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Krapf.
The game remained tied until the ninth inning, when Minnesota got going again on offense. The Golden Gophers scored twice, with one run coming across on sophomore Breezy Burnett's 2-out single, bringing the score to 5-3 in favor of Minnesota. The score remained 5-3 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Gophers held on for the win.
GAME NOTES
» Chavez compiled three hits in the game for Minnesota.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed two runs across.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Tigers at a 9-6 clip.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 40 Clemson hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out three.
» Krapf led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two RBI.
» Clemson was led offensively by senior Valerie Cagle, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
» Senior Millie Thompson led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing 3.2 innings of one-run ball.
GAME 2 | No. 10 Clemson 3, Minnesota 1
CLEMSON, SC -Â The No. 10 Clemson Tigers proved to be too much for Minnesota on this particular day, as the Golden Gophers lost 3-1 on Thursday.
Freshman Macy Richardson (0-1) started and took the loss in the circle for Minnesota (11-9).
Offensively, the Golden Gophers were led by junior Taylor Krapf, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double and an RBI. Junior Kayla Chavez furnished a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Golden Gophers first put runs on the board in the sixth inning. Minnesota got on the board thanks to Krapf's RBI double with two outs. Clemson then scored two times over the remaining one inning to break the tie and grab the 3-1 win.
GAME NOTES
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed one run across.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Clemson to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 29 Clemson hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and eight fly balls while striking out three.
» Krapf led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Clemson was led offensively by senior McKenzie Clark, who went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and two RBI.
» Senior Regan Spencer led the Tigers pitching staff, throwing seven innings of one-run ball.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Enter, Bri (6-3)
L: Valerie Cagle (6-4)
Batting:
RBI: Krapf, Taylor 2 ; Ehlke, Maddy 1 ; Burnett, Breezy 1
SH: DeBord, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Strelow, Sydney 1 ; Chavez, Kayla 2 ; Krapf, Taylor 1 ; DeBord, Morgan 1
SB: Burnett, Breezy 1
HBP: Krapf, Taylor 1
Batting:
3B: Maddie Moore 1
RBI: Valerie Cagle 1 ; Alia Logoleo 1 ; Kylee Johnson 1
SH: McKenzie Clark 1
SF: Kylee Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Valerie Cagle 1 ; Maddie Moore 1 ; Arielle Oda 1
SB: Kylee Johnson 1
