Indiana Softball Splits with No. 24 Minnesota in Opening Weekend Finale

Sunday, February 28

Leesburg, Fla.

3:30 P.M.

Indiana University

3-2, 3-2

Minnesota

3-2, 3-2

Minnesota

Indiana

Indiana Softball Splits with No. 24 Minnesota in Opening Weekend Finale

2/28/2021 9:36:00 PM | Softball

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

LEESBURG, Fla. – Indiana Softball closed out the first weekend of action by splitting a doubleheader with No. 24 Minnesota. The Gophers took game one with a score of 6-2 while the Hoosiers picked up the 7-5 victory in game two.

Game One: No. 24 Minnesota 6, Indiana 2
KEY MOMENTS
• Minnesota led off the game with a walk followed by a base hit to left in the top of the first. After an error at third base, the Gophers were able to load bases before a grounder to first brought in the first run. They added two more runs off a hit to shallow left center to make the score 3-0.
• Senior Emily Goodin and company combined to send the Minnesota batters down in order in the top of the second inning.
• Hannah Davis got the first Hoosier hit but she was called out at second on a fielder's choice shortly after in the second.
• A solo home run by the Gophers started the third which caused Indiana to look to the bullpen for Amber Linton. Linton walked the first batter she faced which led to two Minnesota runs.
• Indiana saw their best chance to string together some runs in the fourth as Hannah Davis drew a walk with one out. In to pinch hit, Aaliyah Andrews reached first on an error by the Gophers shortstop. Katie Lacefield came on to pinch run for Davis but two quick outs ended the frame for the Hoosiers.
• Macy Montgomery entered the circle to start the fifth where she kept the Gopher bats at bay with three shutout innings as the reliever.
• Indiana sent the Gopher batters down in order before initiating a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Brooke Benson got it started with a soft grounder to reach first after the Minnesota infielder dropped the ball while trying to tag. Desiree Dufek beat out a grounder to first to put two Hoosiers on with one out. Both Dufek and Benson advanced after a passed ball by Minnesota.
• Tete Hart plated Benson on a grounder down the third base line before Taylor Lambert made it home on a passed ball. Radcliffe picked up her second walk of the game to get two runners on the base paths. Minnesota collected the final two outs to strand one and win game one by a score of 6-2.

NOTABLES
• Macy Montgomery pitched three shutout innings to lead the Hoosiers in the circle.
• Tete Hart had a RBI for the second straight game to lead Indiana. Hart has three RBI so far this season.
• Grayson Radcliffe, Hannah Davis, Annika Baez, and Tete Hart all recorded hits for the Hoosiers.

Game Two: Indiana 7, No. 24 Minnesota 5
KEY MOMENTS
• The Indiana bats came alive early as Grayson Radcliffe led off game two with a single after a Minnesota error. Gabbi Jenkins laid down a sacrifice bunt which moved Radcliffe into scoring position at second. In as a pinch runner, Juvia Davis made it home on a double up the middle from H. Davis. Andrews entered as pinch runner, but a pop up ended the frame.
• Bella Norton hit her first triple of the season in the third with one out. H. Davis hit a line drive that bounced off the third baseman's glove to plate Norton on the error.
• The Gophers drew a walk with two outs in the fourth, but the Indiana defense was able to end the inning with a pop up to Lacefield.
• Radcliffe led off the fifth with a walk. Jenkins notched a single off a fielder's choice at second base. With Norton at the plate Jenkins stole second to get in scoring position with two outs. Norton ripped the ball through the left field gap to scored Jenkins but was tagged out at second which ended the inning.
• Minnesota loaded the bases twice in the fifth to threaten the Indiana lead. Goodin came in for Linton and had two key strikeouts to minimize the Gophers damage to one run.
• H. Davis had a leadoff triple to begin the sixth. Grace Lorsung laid down a bunt for a single that brought H. Davis to home plate. The Hoosiers loaded the bases but a force out at third concluded the Indiana damage.
• For the third straight frame, Indiana's first batter reached base as Jenkins drew the walk to start the seventh. Norton continued her hot hitting with a single through the left side. H. Davis grounded out to the second baseman but was able to advance Jenkins and Norton. Lorsung drove in H. Davis before Benson would enter to pinch run. A wild pitch plated Norton to give the Hoosiers the 7-1 lead.
• Down to their last three outs, the Gophers scored four runs to begin the comeback, but the Indiana defense was able to hold Minnesota off for the 7-5 victory.

NOTABLES
• Indiana snaps an eight-game losing streak against the Gophers. The last win came in 2011 where the Hoosiers won 4-2.
• The Hoosiers seven runs were the most scored against the Gophers since 2010 when the scored eight.
• Amber Linton got her second career win Sunday night, and she improves to 2-0 on the season. Linton faced 15 batters, gave up two walks and one run.
• Emily Goodin received her second save of the season after coming in to pitch the final three innings. Goodin finished with four strikeouts.
• Bella Norton recorded her first triple of the season. She reached base on all four at bats and tallied two RBI to lead the Hoosiers on offense.
• Hannah Davis secured triple which was her first of the season. Davis connected for three hits and a RBI.
• Norton (4), Davis (3), and Grace Lorsung (2) all had a multi-hit game for Indiana.
• Davis, Norton, and Lorsung recorded two RBI to lead the Hoosiers.

UP NEXT
Indiana will take next weekend off before heading back down to Florida Mar.11 though Mar. 14. The Hoosiers will play three against Northwestern and end week two with another three games against Rutgers.

All dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Check IUHoosiers.com for the latest information.

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