Michigan State freshman pitcher Lauren Kramer was brilliant Saturday as she helped lead the Spartans to a sweep over the University of Minnesota softball team in a doubleheader at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The Gophers (23-28, 6-10 Big Ten) lost the first game 1-0 in eight innings and the second game 3-0. The southpaw started both games for Michigan State (18-25, 2-11 Big Ten), notched two shutouts, allowed just 10 hits and recorded 16 strikeouts while issuing just three walks. That posed problems for MinnesotaâÄôs lineup with a lot of left-handed bats. Four of the GophersâÄô first six hitters bat left-handed. âÄúSheâÄôs a lefty going against a predominately left-handed lineup,âÄù Minnesota co-head coach Julie Standering said. âÄúWe werenâÄôt able to make the adjustments we needed, and it was tough for us to hit her.âÄù Kramer never allowed the Gophers to take advantage of base runners when they had them, either. Minnesota loaded the bases in the second inning of game one but werenâÄôt able to come away with any runs to show for it. Michigan StateâÄôs Jessica Bracamonte scored the only run of the first game in the top of the eighth inning on her solo home run off of Gophers pitcher Briana Hassett. In the bottom half of the inning, the Gophers looked like they were going to mount a threat after sophomore first baseman Malisa Barnes started the inning off with a stand-up double to center field. Senior catcher Shannon Stemper lined out in the very next at bat, however, resulting in a double play with Barnes having started running to third. âÄúWe had opportunities, but we just werenâÄôt able to put runners across when we needed it,âÄù Standering said. Minnesota finished the first game of the doubleheader having left 10 runners on base. In the second game, the Gophers fell behind 0-2 after Michigan State scored two runs on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. The SpartansâÄô Lindsey Hansen flied out to right fielder Katie Dalen with the bases loaded. Dalen made a diving catch but wasnâÄôt able to corral the ball fast enough, and that allowed Michigan StateâÄôs Ali Grant to score all the way from second base. The Spartans would add another run in the sixth inning after Gina Mondo homered off Hassett to put the Spartans up 3-0. Hassett was the losing pitcher in both games for the Gophers, but she added another 17 strikeouts to her season total, bringing the number to 388. That was enough to move her into fifth on the Big TenâÄôs all-time single-season strikeout list. âÄúThatâÄôs some good news after two losses I guess,âÄù Hassett said. Bernstein wanted to get Hassett some rest after a long week though. Hassett pitched a doubleheader Wednesday at Wisconsin along with SaturdayâÄôs doubleheader, bringing her to 290 innings pitched for the season. âÄúWe need to get Briana some rest,âÄù Standering said. âÄúSheâÄôs exhausted, and weâÄôve got to take care of her physically.âÄù Minnesota has now lost three straight games and will look to rebound this week with Illinois next on the schedule in a two-game home series. The Gophers will then close out their regular season at Iowa the following weekend.