The softball team had another successful tournament weekend, coming out of the Mizuno Classic in Stillwater, Okla. 3-2, including a 1-0 win Sunday against No. 20 Oklahoma State.
Minnesota didnâÄôt only hand the Cowgirls their first loss of the tournament, but were also the only team to score a run against them the entire weekend. Freshman Sara Moulton tossed her third shutout of the weekend, getting the last out of the game with an Oklahoma State player on second base.
Kari Dorle, who went 3-for-3 in MinnesotaâÄôs opening win against Northern Colorado, singled in Kristen Coonrod for MinnesotaâÄôs lone against the Cowgirls run in the top of the sixth. It was MinnesotaâÄôs first win against a ranked team since 2009, and it gave the Gophers their fourth consecutive winning weekend in their early season tournaments this year.
Minnesota started the Mizuno Classic against Northern Colorado (1-18). The BearsâÄô only win of the season came against Minnesota at the Hotel Encanto Invitational on Feb. 13. They pounded the Gophers 12-4, handing them their third consecutive loss to start the season.
This time Minnesota came out hot, scoring two runs in the top of the first. It would be all the team needed, as the Gophers ended up winning 5-0 for their fifth win in six games.
Moulton continued her dominant pitching, throwing the first of three shutouts she had in the tournament. She held Northern Colorado to just three hits and struck out seven. Four players for the Gophers went 2-4 in a solid effort for the team on both sides of the field.
The Gophers solid play did not last long however, as they lost their afternoon game on Friday 9-0 against tournament host Oklahoma State. Junior Alissa Koch walked eight and gave up 12 hits in the loss for Minnesota. Oklahoma StateâÄôs Kat Espinosa, on the other hand, kept the Gophers to one hit in five innings of work, striking out six.
On Saturday, Minnesota split a pair of games against Northern Iowa (12-8). The Gophers dropped the first matchup 5-2, failing to score a run until Alex Davis hit her fourth home run of the year âÄì a two-run shot âÄì in the seventh inning. Moulton had an uncharacteristic start, giving up five runs despite allowing only six hits and striking out seven.
The second matchup against Northern Iowa provided the first of MinnesotaâÄôs two 1-0 wins in the tournament. Moulton tossed a complete game, striking out six while only allowing four hits.
The Gophers come out of the tournament with a 14-10 overall record. TheyâÄôll have a quick turnaround and play North Dakota State in the Missouri State Tournament on Tuesday. ItâÄôs the teamâÄôs second to last tournament until the Big Ten season begins in 12 days. Minnesota has eight games until then, and will look to build momentum before league play.
