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By losing the first three games of a four-game series against Michigan, the Gophers saw their chance at the Big Ten softball championship disappear, with the Wolverines clinching the regular-season title Saturday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
That left the Gophers with two jobs for Sunday s finale: Give the program s five seniors a victory on Senior Day and bolster the team s argument for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Consider both tasks accomplished.
Behind home runs by MaKenna Partain, Natalie DenHartog and Sydney Strelow in the first two innings, the 23rd-ranked Gophers beat No. 19 Michigan 7-3 in their regular-season home finale. Minnesota (26-10) banged out eight hits and chased Michigan ace Alex Storako, who gave up the three homers among her five runs along with three walks in two-plus innings. Storako (19-3) entered the game with a 0.67 ERA and left with a 0.93 mark as Michigan fell to 32-6.
Gophers softball series against Michigan could decide Big Ten title The top two teams in the conference will square off four times over the next three days in Minneapolis. May 6, 2021 10:04pm Text size Copy shortlink:
When it comes to Big Ten softball, the Michigan Wolverines and the Gophers have been the class of the league over the past decade.
The Wolverines put together a dynasty with 10 Big Ten regular-season titles in 11 years before the pandemic-shortened season last year. The Gophers, who won three consecutive conference tournament titles from 2016 to 18, were the only team to dethrone Michigan as champions in league play four years ago.
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RPI: 15.
Ballpark: Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field (1,277)
Postseason history: 22 NCAA Regional appearances, 2 Super Regional appearances, 3 World Series appearances.
Ace of the staff: Kelsey Oh. The senior right-hander had the 2020 season cut short with a foot injury. Oh finished 4-2 with a 2.14 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 16 walks in 32.2 IP.
Impact player: Kenzi Maguire. The graduate senior will be in her sixth season of college softball. Maguire started all 23 games at shortstop in 2020 for the Gamecocks, batting .328 with five doubles, nine RBIs, 14 walks, nine hit by pitches and 22 runs scored.
DII softball: Kutztown head coach Judy Lawes wins game No. 1,000 of her career