GAME ONE
EL PASO, TX – Sydney Schwartz had everything working on Friday, fanning 10 Idaho State hitters over seven innings of work to help lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the Bengals 6-1.
In addition to her 10 strikeouts, Schwartz (2-1) went seven innings, giving up one run on six hits and walking one for Minnesota (2-4).
Offensively, the Golden Gophers were led by Scarlett Kuhn, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double and three RBIs. Cassie Johnson furnished a standout effort as well, going 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Lucy Hooper also contributed for Minnesota, putting together three hits in three trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Golden Gophers first put runs on the board in the third inning. Jae Cosgriff came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minnesota and get them on the board.
The score stayed at 1-1 until the sixth inning, when the Golden Gophers put runs on the scoreboard once again. Kuhn’s bases-clearing double was the offense in a three-run inning for Minnesota, which brought the Golden Gophers lead to 4-1.
Minnesota kept Idaho State scoreless before building their lead to 6-1 the following inning. The score remained 6-1 for the rest of the game, as Minnesota coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Hooper compiled three base knocks in the game for Minnesota.
» Schwartz struck out 10 Bengals hitters.
» Minnesota’s highest scoring inning was the sixth, when it pushed three runs across.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Bengals at an 11-6 clip.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Idaho State to just 1-for-11 (.091) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 30 Idaho State hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and zero fly balls while striking out 10.
» Kuhn led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs.
GAME TWO
EL PASO, TX – The Minnesota Golden Gophers broke through after a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning to knock off the UTEP Miners 8-6 Friday.
Sydney Schwartz (3-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (3-4). The right-hander went three innings, giving up four runs, two earned, on five hits, allowing four walks and striking out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Minnesota scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run triple from Brooklyn Jones.
The Miners then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 3-1 until the Golden Gophers expanded their advantage in the third. Cassie Johnson came across to score the lone run of the inning for Minnesota, which brought the score to 4-1 in favor of the Golden Gophers.
UTEP narrowed Minnesota’s lead to 4-2 before the Golden Gophers stretched the advantage to 5-2 in the fifth inning.
The Miners then tied the game at five before Minnesota fought back to retake their advantage in the sixth inning. The Golden Gophers scored twice on Tara Wolocko’s two-run homer, bringing the score to 7-5 in favor of Minnesota.
The Golden Gophers kept UTEP off the board before building on their lead to 8-5 the following inning. Minnesota picked up a run on Maggie Werner’s leadoff home run off of T. Vega. UTEP put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still held on for the 8-6 win.
GAME NOTES
» Minnesota’s highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed three runs across.
» Minnesota grabbed a 3-1 lead in the top half of the first and didn’t surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 38 UTEP hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» The Golden Gophers drew five walks from UTEP pitching.
» Wolocko led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs.
UP NEXT
The Gophers travel to Las Cruces, N.M., for three games over the weekend. Minnesota opens with No. 4 Oklahoma at 10:00 a.m. CT on Valentine’s Day, followed by a 4:00 p.m. CT matchup against host New Mexico State. Both Friday games will stream live on ESPN+. The ‘U’ closes out the trip with a second contest against NMSU at 10:00 a.m. CT on Sunday.