Hoosiers Drop DH to No. 7 Minnesota

Saturday, April 8

Minneapolis, Minn.

2:00 PM ET

Indiana University

17-20, 3-5

University of Minnesota

34-3, 7-1

Indiana

Minnesota

4/8/2017 7:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (PDF) - Game Two Box Score (PDF) - Game Three

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Indiana Softball (17-21, 3-6 Big Ten) dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader to No. 7 Minnesota (35-3, 8-1 Big Ten), falling 10-2 and 8-0.

No. 7 Minnesota 10, Indiana 2
In the first game of the day, Indiana outhit Minnesota, 5-4, but the Golden Gophers earned nine walks to propel them to the five-inning victory.

Junior Rebecca Blitz notched a pair of hits in the contest in her return to the leadoff spot for the first time since the season's opening weeks.

Minnesota jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening frame on a two-run double by Maddie Houlihan and sacrifice fly by Sara Groenewegen.

Groenewegen tossed all 5.0 innings for Minnesota, giving up two earned runs and two walks while striking out four.

Indiana's first hit of the day came from Blitz in the third as she sent a one-out single through the left side. Uden brought her home on her sixth home run of the season, a shot to left to cut the deficit to 3-2.

However, the Golden Gophers extended their lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on four walks, an RBI single and a pair of home runs. MaKenna Partain started the scoring by plating Danielle Parlich on a single to left. A bases-loaded walk to Dani Wagner made it 5-2 before Allie Arneson's grand slam to left center. Sam Macken then hit a solo shot to make it 10-2.

Redshirt sophomore Emily Kirk pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief for sophomore Tara Trainer. Kirk's only hit allowed was Macken's homer.

IU responded to Minnesota's seven-run third inning by loading the bases in the fourth on a Golden Gopher error and singles from Blitz and freshman Katie Lacefield, however a ground out ended the threat.

No. 7 Minnesota 8, Indiana 0
The Golden Gophers knocked their second grand slam in as many games to start game two, this time off the bat of Sydney Dwyer.

An RBI groundout by Macken in the second extended the lead to 5-0 before a three-run third inning. After back-to-back RBI doubles by Dwyer and Groenewegen, a single by Dani Wagner made it 8-0.

Minnesota looked to add on to the lead in the fourth as a single and walk put two on. But Trainer, in to relieve Kirk, picked up a pair of strikeouts and Blitz made a diving grab in center to end the inning.

Tsirigos and freshman Gabbi Jenkins earned the lone Indiana hits of the game. For the series, Tsirigos collected five hits and batted .714.

Up next for Indiana, the Hoosiers return to Andy Mohr Field on Tuesday to host Purdue in a doubleheader. The action begins at 4 p.m. and both games will be shown live on Big Ten Network. Admission to all Indiana home games is free of charge.