Two nonconference losses and a third baseman in the hospital wasn’t the same script the Gophers softball team rehearsed on the way to Drake.
Wednesday, their script for two wins and some confidence was rewritten after Carol Thompson four-hit Minnesota for a 2-0 win, while six errors sealed a 5-4 decision.
The last of those six errors — four committed by the middle infield of Jordanne Nygren and Shelly Nichols — won the game for Drake. With runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth, Gophers catcher Meghan Smith tried to pick off Mollie Murphy at third. The normally strong gun of Smith short-hopped to Allie Fisk at third, and the ball smacked her in the nose. Murphy scored, Fisk went to the hospital.
Fisk played in place of Michelle Bennett, who has a slight shin injury. She was available, but did not play as a precaution.
Smith did hit her first collegiate home run in the game, and Tammi Hays went 4 for 7 with five stolen bases in the two games.
Angie Recknor threw all but one inning of the doubleheader and gave up just three earned runs, but she got a no-decision and a loss.
The Gophers take on Northern Iowa today.
— Mark Heller