Gophers softball won four of their five games during their first home tournament at U.S. Bank Stadium this past weekend.
The team started strong as they swept both North Dakota State University (NDSU) and Wagner College on Feb. 28. After winning back-to-back games by seven or more runs, the final two games of the tournament came down to a walk-off and extra innings.
Gophers catcher Taylor Krapf hit a home run in the second inning of the NDSU game, putting Minnesota on the board first. In the third inning, the Bison tied the game 1-1.
In the fourth inning, Gophers second baseman Maggie Werner brought the score up to 3-1, which ended as the final score.
Their game against Wagner started at 7 p.m., and once again the Gophers got out to an early lead, ending the second inning up 2-0.
The Gophers showed no signs of slowing down. Pitchers Natalie Susa and Presley Hosick threw a combined no-hitter to win 7-0.
“Anytime we get a win it’s good,” said Gophers head coach Piper Ritter. “A win is a win. It is important to get them.”
The Gophers only played one game on the second day of the tournament, but Minnesota’s matchup with Miami University was the closest of the tournament.
Miami led for the majority of the game after scoring a run in the first inning. However, the Gophers took over in the bottom of the fifth inning after hitting three home runs and cashing in five runs.
The game went into the seventh inning tied 5-5. Gophers pitcher Jessa Snippes hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 9-6 Minnesota victory.
Ritter said the team is invested in every at-bat in games like this.
“They are the ones who are making the plays and the at-bats,” Ritter said. “So for them, it’s about being in every at-bat, not throwing them away, not getting out the same way twice.”
After three wins, Minnesota went into the last day of the tournament with only two games left.
Their first game was against NDSU for the second time this tournament. Krapf hit four RBIs and a home run, while Gophers center fielder Breezy Burnett added a home run and three RBIs as the Gophers defeated the Bison 10-1.
Ritter said the team has tightened up their play over the last few games.
“I do think we are doing a better job in the outfield,” Ritter said. “Not throwing past our cut and giving up the trailing base runner and extra 60 feet.”
Ridder said the pitchers are limiting walks to one or two a game, down from their slow start to begin the season.
For the final game of the tournament, the Gophers played the University of St. Thomas. The game went into an extra eighth inning until St. Thomas scored twice to hand the Gophers their first loss of the tournament.
Despite the overall winning weekend, Ritter said the Gophers still have room for improvement.
“We still have to take care of the ball,” Ritter said. “Just not giving them up 60 feet.”
The Gophers are back on the road this weekend and will play the University of South Alabama and LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
