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MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Iowa softball team (18-28, 4-16 Big Ten) fell to Minnesota (37-10, 18-1 Big Ten), 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
HEAR FROM COACH GILLISPIE
“We were going up against some tough competition, Minnesota is a great team. They are solid defensively and offensively. They are three pitchers deep. We also gave up too many home runs.”
“Lea Thompson did a great job at the plate and made some things happen. Lea is a spark plug for us and we need a little more of that. Abby Lien did a great job at the plate and behind the plate.”
“We have UNI on Tuesday, and having Ohio State at home with our home crowd is going to be fantastic. We want our fans to come out, be loud, and get our girls going, it’s going to be a good weekend.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
Minnesota wasted no time, striking first in the first inning scoring two runs, with a RBI double and a close tag at home on a SAC-fly.
Sophomore Ashley Hamilton contributed a hit in the third inning but she was left on.
The Golden Gophers added three runs in the third inning with a two-run home run, and a one-run home run.
Hamilton ended the third inning with a diving catch.
Junior Lea Thompson notched a hit in the top of the fifth inning but she was caught stealing, ending another Iowa opportunity.
Minnesota added an insurance run in the fifth inning, scoring on a one-run home run.
Iowa started a spark in the top of the seventh with a single through the left side for freshman Abby Lien. Thompson earned a RBI single, scoring Lien, but Iowa couldn’t maintain the momentum and fell to the Golden Gophers 6-1.
IN THE CIRCLE
Sophomore Sarah Lehmann pitched three inning for the Hawkeyes and notched three strikeouts. Senior Erin Riding relieved Lehman in the fourth inning, earning six strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to take on Northern Iowa, on Tuesday at 5 p.m. (CT) Live stats will be available at hawkeyesports.com/sblive, live audio will be available on KXIC 800 AM and live streaming will be available on BTN Plus.