It’s the opening weekend of games for the Gophers softball team.  Minnesota will play six games as part of the annual Metrodome Classic this weekend and will play 29 more contests, mostly at tournaments, before the start of the Big Ten season on March 27 at Penn State.

The Gophers split a pair of games with Western Illinois yesterday, and they face Iowa State and Drake this afternoon. Lacey Middlebrooks, who won the first game yesterday, is the starting pitcher against the Cyclones.

If the blog appears to halt at a certain point, then it’s probably because of my computer troubles.

Top 4th – Iowa State finally got to Middlebrooks with four straight hits, including a game-tying, two-run triple by left fielder Carleigh Berry. Kidwell brought Berry home with a bunt single in front of the plate. IOWA STATE 4, GOPHERS 3.

Bottom 2nd – The Gophers left the bases loaded when junior first baseman Malisa Barnes grounded out to the pitcher.

Bottom 1st – Minnesota scored three runs, capped by a two-run home run by freshman third baseman Alex Davis, who had the game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning in the opener against Western Illinois yesterday.

Top 1st – Iowa State put a runner in scoring position when right fielder Heidi Kidwell hit a bloop single to left-center and stole second on a strikeout.