The No. 23 University of Minnesota softball team earned a 7-3 win over No. 19 Michigan, today at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Golden Gophers (26-10) closed out the home season in style, hitting three home runs en route to their 10th home win of the year.
The home season finale also recognized its senior class: Carlie Brandt, Macy Gill, Amber Fiser, Katelyn Kemmetmueller and MaKenna Partain.
Of Minnesota’s seven runs, four came off Gopher home runs. Partain hit a two-run homer, followed by solo shots from Natalie DenHartog and Sydney Strelow. DenHartog and Strelow each had two-hit games, while Partain and Strelow had two RBIs.
Amber Fiser collected the win when she went six innings and 111 pitches. She allowed two earned runs, and four hits in 111 pitches. She now improves to 13-5 this year.
Michigan opened the game with an RBI double and a 1-0 lead, but Minnesota responded in the bottom of the first. Ellee Jensen started off with a walk before Partain belted a two-run home run to left center. DenHartog followed with a solo shot of her own in the very next at bat. It was the first time the Gophers had back-to-back home runs since 2018.
Minnesota took a 4-1 lead off a Strelow solo home run when she hit one to left. She followed with another RBI in the third on a single up the middle to go up, 5-1.
The Gophers tacked on another two runs in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. After Emily Hansen walked to start the inning, Megan Dray singled to left and advanced to second on a fielding error by Michigan. The Gophers capitalized and scored Gill, who pinch ran for Hansen. The Gophers plated another run when Sara Kinch singled and scored MacKenzie Denson, who pinch ran for Dray.
Michigan scored two in the top of the sixth off a single and an error, but the Gophers shut down the Wolverines in the seventh for the win. Autumn Pease came into the game and sent the batters down in order to solidify the Gophers’ 26th win of the season.
Minnesota closes out the Big Ten regular season next weekend when it travels to Penn State, May 14-16.
(info and photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)