University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Utah
Players Mentioned
Gopher Softball Hits the Road to Start the 2025 Season
2/6/2025 10:43:00 AM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS - The Gophers get their season started at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The 'U' will face off against RV Utah, RV California, RV Miami (OH), and Arizona State.
GAME ONE
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. RV Utah (0-0, 0-0 Big12)
Date: Friday, Feb. 7
Time: 10:00 AM
GAME TWO
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. RV California (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 7
Time: 12:30 PM
GAME THREE
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. RV Miami (OH) (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8
Time: 4:45 PM
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. Arizona State (0-0, 0-0 Big12)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8
Time: 9:15 PM
GAME FIVE
Minnesota (0-0, 0-0 B1G) vs. RV Utah (0-0, 0-0 Big12)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 9
Time: 12:15 PM
Season Kickstart
The Gophers embark on their 51st season of play in Arizona at the Kajikawa Classic. This tournament has been held every year since 2005 at Arizona State University. 2025 will mark the first time the 'U' will play in this tournament. Minnesota is once again testing themselves this season by facing stiff competition to start the season. Arizona State is the only team that the 'U' will face in the Kajikawa Classic that ended last season outside the Top 50 of the NCAA Softball RPI.
Krapf By The Numbers
Coming off of a stellar Junior season Taylor Krapf was named #81 on the Softball America Preseason Top 100 List. Krapf tallied a .311 batting average with 161 at-bats, 50 hits, 24 runs scored, 14 doubles, 11 home runs, and 52 RBI. Krapf had a slugging percentage of .602 and an on-base percentage of .423. She also accumulated 22 walks, 13 hit-by-pitch, and 5 sacrifice flies. Krapf is also crucial for the Gophers on defense. She had 223 putouts and 19 assists with only 5 errors in 53 games. Her fielding percentage for the year was .980.
Postseason Push
Minnesota will be looking to rebound from not making the NCAA Tournament in 2024. The Gophers had made the Tournament 10 years in a row prior to 2024 which was leading the Big Ten in consecutive years making the NCAA Tournament.
Battling the Best
The Gophers once again are going to test themselves with a tough schedule. This year they are taking on 13 teams that finished the 2024 season as ranked or receiving votes. Highlighted by facing WCWS participant Duke as well as hosting Big Ten Regular Season Champions Northwestern and Big Ten Tournament Champions Michigan.
Fabulous Freshmen
Minnesota welcomes four freshmen to the squad this season in Tinley Easton, Natalie Susa, Cameron Chard, and Jae Cosgriff. Easton comes to the 'U' by way of Lexington, Kentucky. She competed with the Louisville Sluggers National Team. The infielder was named a Kentucky East-West All Star, a two-time First Team All-District Selection, and was named the Tates Creek HS MaxPreps Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022. Susa arrives at the 'U' from Macedonia, Ohio where she was named the Greater Akron Softball Player of the Year and the Crown Conference MVP in 2022. Susa prepped with the Ohio Outlaw National Team and at Walsh Jesuit High School. Chard chose to stay close to home as the Minnesota native will begin her collegiate softball career with the Gophers this spring. She earned 6 varsity letters with the Softball program and led Belle Plaine HS to the 2023 Conference Championship. Last, but certainly not least, Cosgriff will begin her career with the Gophers after a stellar High School career in California. The Livermore, Calif. native was named to the First Team East Bay Athletic League in 2021 and 2023. She was a Second Team selection in 2022 and was named to the First Team All-Bay Area team in 2021.
For more information about Gopher Softball, fans can continue to use GopherSports.com, as well as follow along on X, Instagram, and Facebook.