University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
13-18, 2-6
Northwestern
16-11, 5-0
Minnesota Drops Two Games Against Northwestern
3/28/2025 8:04:00 PM | Softball
GAME 1 | Northwestern 2, Minnesota 0
MINNEAPOLIS, MN --The Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-19, 2-6 B1G) were not able to notch a run against Northwestern (16-11, 5-0 B1G) pitcher senior Lauren Boyd on Friday and were shut out 2-0 by the Wildcats.
Junior Syndey Schwartz (4-10) got the ball to start for Minnesota and took the loss. The right-hander went seven innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on six hits, allowing three walks and striking out four.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Minnesota managed zero chances with runners on third in the shutout, going a total of 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The Gophers last got a runner on third in the first, when Senior Taylor Krapf made it 60 feet away from scoring with one out.
GAME NOTES
» Minnesota pitchers limited Northwestern to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 29 Northwestern hitters in the game, allowing 13 ground balls and three fly balls while striking out four.
» Senior Margaret Tobias led the Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-3.
» Northwestern was led offensively by Senior Grace Nieto, who went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Boyd led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing seven scoreless innings.
GAME 2 | Northwestern 3, Minnesota 2
MINNEAPOLIS, MN --Minnesota pitchers surrendered only three, but the Golden Gophers (13-20, 2-7 B1G) could not muster the offense to take advantage, losing to the Northwestern Wildcats (17-11, 6-0 B1G) by the score of 3-2 on Friday.
Freshman Natalie Susa (1-3) took the loss in the circle for Minnesota. The right-hander went 4.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing no walks and striking out six. Junior Syndey Schwartz was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going two shutout innings while allowing two hits, walking none and striking out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gophers were trailing 2-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Minnesota scored twice, with one run coming across on freshman Tinley Easton's single. Northwestern then scored one time over the remaining six innings to break the tie and grab the 3-2 win.
GAME NOTES
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed two runs across.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 27 Northwestern hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out eight.
» Senior Margaret Tobias led the Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-2.
» Northwestern was led offensively by freshman Avery Garden, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Sophomore Riley Grudzielanek led the Wildcats pitching staff, throwing seven innings of two-run ball.
UP NEXT
The 'U' will be back in action tomorrow. Minnesota will take on Northwestern tomorrow at 2pm. Played at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.
For more information on Gopher Softball, fans can continue using GopherSports.com, as well as follow along on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Grudzielanek, Riley (7-7)
L: Susa, Natalie (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Robinson, Kansas 1
HR: Garden, Avery 1
RBI: Robinson, Kansas 1 ; Donahey, Bridget 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
SF: Donahey, Bridget 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nader, Kelsey 1 ; Avvisato, Kaylie 1 ; Garden, Avery 1
Batting:
RBI: Chavez, Kayla 1 ; Easton, Tinley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tobias, Margaret 1 ; Valencia, Nani 1
HBP: Werner, Maggie 1 ; Burnett, Breezy 1
