Serving the UMN community since 1900

The Minnesota Daily

Serving the UMN community since 1900

The Minnesota Daily

Serving the UMN community since 1900

The Minnesota Daily

Daily Email Edition

Get MN Daily NEWS delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

By demonizing pleasure, we set ourselves up for unfulfilling sex lives.
Opinion: Let’s talk about sex
Published March 27, 2024

In search of a rare sweep, one game at a time

Michigan St. seems like the team to end a 2-year sweep drought against, but the Gophers refuse to think that far ahead.
In search of a rare sweep, one game at a time
Image by Daily File Photo

This may be the weekend that the Gophers break their two-year streak, find a way to put together back-to-back solid games at home and finally sweep a Big Ten series. They even have lowly Michigan State to face, a team with only one road win in conference this year.

But donâĂ„Ă´t speak a word of this to head coach Jessica Allister.

âĂ„ĂşAnybody can beat anybody on any given day,âĂ„Ăą Allister shot in at the mention of a possible sweep. âĂ„ĂşIâĂ„Ă´m not going to say that weâĂ„Ă´re more likely to get a sweep from [Michigan State] than anybody else.âĂ„Ăą

The game-by-game approach Allister employs has shown up in the teamâĂ„Ă´s results, as Minnesota has lost three games in a row only once since the seasonâĂ„Ă´s first tournament. It has won three or more in a row four times.

None of those winning streaks have come in Big Ten play, however. While the Gophers havenâĂ„Ă´t found that elusive series sweep since March 22, 2009, against Indiana, they have made plenty of strides in the right direction this year to reach 27 wins in AllisterâĂ„Ă´s first season.

The teamâĂ„Ă´s offensive woes have been well-documented this season, but the trend isnâĂ„Ă´t team-wide. The player of the year offensively thus far has unquestionably been senior first baseman Malisa Barnes, whose .439 average is fourth-best in the Big Ten.

Barnes had been a reliable player for the Gophers throughout her four seasons but came into this year hitting .322 on her career, more than 110 points below this yearâĂ„Ă´s output.  

Though she believes the teamâĂ„Ă´s wins and the programâĂ„Ă´s future are headed in the right direction, Barnes doesnâĂ„Ă´t feel MinnesotaâĂ„Ă´s 5-7 Big Ten record is necessarily representative of its potential.

âĂ„ĂşThe most frustrating part is knowing that weâĂ„Ă´re more than capable of [a sweep],âĂ„Ăą Barnes said.

Michigan State is second to last in the Big Ten this year with a conference record of 3-9. While this is encouraging to the GophersâĂ„Ă´ chances this weekend, keep in mind that they were swept by last place Ohio State earlier this year at home, the BuckeyesâĂ„Ă´ only two wins this season.

The forecast is again calling for rain and cooler temperatures for the pair of games at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The sun may peek out on Sunday, a bonus for the Gophers, who have played in mostly dismal conditions at home this year. However the skies shake out, the focus, as always, will remain on the next game for Allister and the Gophers.

âĂ„ĂşWeâĂ„Ă´re going to try to win the first one first,âĂ„Ăą she said about MinnesotaâĂ„Ă´s chances at a sweep. âĂ„ĂşThatâĂ„Ă´s the only way to put ourselves in that position. WeâĂ„Ă´ll worry about game two after.âĂ„Ăą

Leave a Comment
More to Discover

Accessibility Toolbar

Comments (0)

All The Minnesota Daily Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *