The Gophers continue their early season travel with a trip to Boca Raton, Fla. for the Joan Joyce Classic. The ‘U’ will take on hosts Florida Atlantic as well as Louisville twice, Villanova, and NC State. Each game at the Joan Joyce Classic will have Live Stats via StatBroadcast as well as a streaming option through FloCollege streaming. Minnesota’s game against FAU will be broadcasted through FAU Video.
GAME ONE
Minnesota (1-3, 0-0 B1G) vs. FAU (6-0, 0-0 AAC)
Date: Thursday, Feb. 13
Time: 5:00 PM
GAME TWO
Minnesota (1-3, 0-0 B1G) vs. Louisville (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Friday, Feb. 14
Time: 10:15 AM
GAME THREE
Minnesota (1-3, 0-0 B1G) vs. Louisville (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
Time: 8:00 AM
GAME FOUR
Minnesota (1-3, 0-0 B1G) vs. Villanova (2-3, 0-0 Big East)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
Time: 10:15 PM
GAME FIVE
Minnesota (1-3, 0-0 B1G) vs. NC State (3-2, 0-0 ACC)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 16
Time: 7:30 AM
Joan Joyce Classic
The Gophers continue their 51st season of competition at the Joan Joyce Classic. This tournament is named after Joan Joyce who was a longtime coach at FAU. She amassed over 1000 wins while at Florida Atlantic.
Checking Out the Field
Minnesota will face another loaded field in this tournament. The Gophers will square off with Louisville twice, RV/25 FAU, Villanova, and NC State. FAU is the only team currently in the top 50 of the RPI after the first weekend of play. Louisville is #53, the Wolfpack of NC State is #56, and Villanova is #79 in the NCAA RPI. FAU is also RV/25 in the NFCA and USA Softball Standings after week 1.
History
Minnesota faced off with NC State last year in Columbia, SC. The Gophers won that game 14-4 in 5 innings. The ‘U’ last squared off with Villanova in 2013 when the Gophers lost 5-4 in Fort Myers, Fla. Minnesota is 6-6 all-time against Louisville. The last time these two teams squared off was in 2015 when the ‘U’ came away with a 4-2 win. The Gophers last played FAU in 2017 with the maroon and gold winning 4-1. This matchup is tied 4-4 all time.
Stats Highlights From Last Weekend
Nani Valencia had a standout weekend for the Gophers last weekend. Valencia hit .500, slugged .917, and had an OB% of .571. She amassed 6 hits in 12 ABs and scored 6 runs while driving in 2. Freshman Tinley Easton started 2 games over the weekend and hit a Grand Slam in her first collegiate plate appearance. 5 Gophers hit over .300 for the weekend. Presley Hosick led the ‘U’ in the circle going 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA. Highlighted by a 127 pitch, 9 strikeout complete game in the Gophers’ win over Miami(OH). Cameron Grayson made 2 appearances and posted an ERA of 2.25. Valencia, Margaret Tobias, and Breezy Burnett each had multi-hit games over the weekend. Both Burnett and Valencia are on 4 game hit streaks to start the season. Sydney Schwartz, Burnett, and Valencia all reached base safely in each of the 4 games the Gophers played at the Kajikawa Classic.
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
