For most sports teams, the term âÄúhome field advantageâÄù rings true. But in its first three tournaments of the 2009 season the Minnesota softball team has gone against the grain and played far better on the road, displayed by a 4-1 record at the Islander Invitational this past weekend in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a 3-2 start to the season with solid wins in its first tournament in Florida, the Gophers struggled to a 1-5 record in the Metrodome Classic in Minneapolis. Going into the Islander Invitational with a 4-7 overall record, head coach Lisa Bernstein said she still expected her team to finish with a 5-0 record in Texas. The Gophers responded to the high expectations, picking up two wins Friday by beating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 5-1 and Dayton in five innings by a 10-1 margin. âÄúThe last two games in the Metrodome were kind of the start of it,âÄù Bernstein said. âÄúWe were one big hit away in each game from getting wins. It has kind of rolled into this weekend and the kids are playing great.âÄù Senior pitcher Briana Hassett took the team on her back to pick up wins in both games, pitching a shutout in the first game and coming in for a relief win in the second. Minnesota played two more games Saturday morning and continued its winning ways, edging out Loyola-Chicago 1-0 and beating Pittsburgh 4-1. Hassett threw two complete games Saturday for wins, accounting for 24 of the Gophers 42 outs by strikeouts. âÄúBriana has been amazing this weekend,âÄù Bernstein said. âÄúThe defense doesnâÄôt have to work as hard when you are getting so many KâÄôs.âÄù While Minnesota dropped its final game Sunday to Pittsburgh 1-7, the Gophers leave Texas back on track with an 8-8 overall record on the season. âÄúIâÄôm just glad that they are getting some reward for all of their effort,âÄù Bernstein said.