Gopher Softball 2017

2017 ACC/BIG Ten Challenge...

NC State*/Notre Dame vs. Michigan/Minnesota

Florida State*/Pitt vs.Northwestern/Nebraska

Georgia Tech*/Virginia Tech vs. Iowa/Penn State

UNC*/Louisville vs. Ohio State/Purdue

* Indicates that school is the host.
 

2017 ACC/BIG Ten Challenge...

NC State*/Notre Dame vs. Michigan/Minnesota

Florida State*/Pitt vs.Northwestern/Nebraska

Georgia Tech*/Virginia Tech vs. Iowa/Penn State

UNC*/Louisville vs. Ohio State/Purdue

* Indicates that school is the host.

Thanks for posting. Notre Dame was 43-13 last year. Lost in the Regional to Michigan. Looks like all their pitching is returning. NC State was 23-33.
 

Washington appears to have posted their schedule as well... Looks like Gophs are playing in the 'Husky Classic' in March.

Min will go head-to-head with Washington on March 10th and 11th.
 

Washington appears to have posted their schedule as well... Looks like Gophs are playing in the 'Husky Classic' in March.

Min will go head-to-head with Washington on March 10th and 11th.


Nice match up! Thanks for posting. Presume the other 2 games will be South Dakota and Seattle U.
 

I'm hoping that one year the Gophers can play a softball version of the DQ Classic and bring some quality teams up here to play some games at US Bank Stadium.
 


I'm hoping that one year the Gophers can play a softball version of the DQ Classic and bring some quality teams up here to play some games at US Bank Stadium.


That would be great. It's so tough not only for the current players but also for recruiting when you have to start the season with ~30 road games every year.
 

That would be great. It's so tough not only for the current players but also for recruiting when you have to start the season with ~30 road games every year.

I'm kind of the opposite view. I think it's cool how they hit the road and get some warm weather in. University of Washington, which as you mentioned is hosting a tourney that the Gophers are part of, only plays 4 games at home before the conference begins. Just using them as an example. Mind you, I am not a student and worried about studying.
Also, really like how Allister handled a question about cold weather when recruiting during an interview. She made no apologies for it. Simply said this is it, this is Minnesota. Basically what you see is what you get. No attempts at trying to bring the recruits in hoping for a good weekend of sun.
 

Teams listed in order of conference finish for regular season.

Michigan, no schedule out yet.
Minnesota, not out yet.
Northwestern, nothing yet.
Penn State, nothing yet.
Nebraska has theirs. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico starts it out. http://www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&SPID=34&SPSID=112&DB_OEM_ID=100 Gophers visit the Huskers in the first series of the conference.
Ohio State opens in College Station. http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/osu-w-softbl-sched.html No games against the Buckeyes this year for the Gophers.
Illinois, nothing yet.
Wisconsin, nothing yet.
Indiana, nothing yet.
Michigan State starts out in Boca Raton in the Florida Atlantic tourney. http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/msu-w-softbl-sched.html Gophers not on the Spartan schedule.
Purdue opens up in Tempe, Arizona. http://www.purduesports.com/sports/w-softbl/sched/pur-w-softbl-sched.html Purdue visits Minneapolis in the second to last series.
Rutgers, nothing yet.
Maryland, nothing yet.
Iowa, nothing yet.
 

Listening to Hutchins from Michigan on a podcast, it's going to be Betsa (who has back issues) and Blanco in the circle for 2017. Blanco with 12 and 13 strikeouts against Central Michigan in 2 fall ball games and she also started against the USSSA Pride, the pro team. Gave up 7 walks in 5 innings in that one.

Nebraska threw returnees McClure and Jablonski for the most part in their fall ball schedule.

Illinois threw Taylor Edwards (hard to get info) in one of their games. Really weak schedule even for fall ball. All CC's.

Ohio State returns all their pitching. They played Marshall and Eastern Michigan in a couple of the fall ball tilts, winning both. The ace is Shelby Hursh. 199 strikeouts in 177 innings. She had the win over Marshall.

Indiana beat Butler and Miami of Ohio. Also beat Wright State a couple of times. Hoosiers return their top two pitchers, Trainer and Wood. Looks like Indiana State and Indiana played a doubleheader with the Sycamores sweeping. Former Gopher Kylie Stober threw a 1 hit shut out in a 4-0 win over the Hoosiers.

Michigan State hooked up against Michigan in fall ball and took a 6-4 loss. Zalewski, their workhorse from last season returns for 2017.

Purdue has to replace Lily Fecho and has a new coach. Has Minnesota native, Maddie Damon on their pitching staff. Faced Butler, Indiana State (lost 5-1) and Miami of Ohio during the fall. Couldn't find any stats.

Wisconsin faced Illinois State, University of Illinois-Chicago and DePaul. Beat Illinois State 1-0 and 6-1. Only mention of pitching is about freshman Kaitlyn Menz, who started the first game.

Penn State played 4 games against St Francis, 2 against Kent State and 2 against Bucknell. They went 3-5.

Rutgers played Lehigh, Caldwell, LIU Brooklyn and Delaware. No clue how they fared.

No info on Northwestern.

Iowa played a couple of JC's, UNI, Iowa State and Drake. Beat UNI and Iowa State 3-0 and lost to Drake 8-5.
 




So far...

Minnesota at Nebraska 3-24 3-25 3-26

Indiana at Minnesota 4-7 4-8 4-9

Northwestern at Minnesota 4-14 4-15 4-16

Iowa at Minnesota 4-21 4-22 4-23

Purdue at Minnesota 4-28 4-29 4-30

Minnesota at Penn State 5-5 5-6 5-7

Illinois not out yet, but Gophers will play.
Wisconsin not out yet, but Gophers will play.
No Michigan. Wolverines host the conference tourney.
No Maryland, although do play the Terps twice as part of the Texas Invitational Feb 10 thru 12.
No Michigan State.
No Ohio State.
No Rutgers.

ACC/BIG TEN Challenge
Husky Classic
Bulldog Classic
Texas Invitational
Two more tournaments.
 

So far...

Minnesota at Nebraska 3-24 3-25 3-26

Indiana at Minnesota 4-7 4-8 4-9

Northwestern at Minnesota 4-14 4-15 4-16

Iowa at Minnesota 4-21 4-22 4-23

Purdue at Minnesota 4-28 4-29 4-30

Minnesota at Penn State 5-5 5-6 5-7

Illinois not out yet, but Gophers will play.
Wisconsin not out yet, but Gophers will play.
No Michigan. Wolverines host the conference tourney.
No Maryland, although do play the Terps twice as part of the Texas Invitational Feb 10 thru 12.
No Michigan State.
No Ohio State.
No Rutgers.

ACC/BIG TEN Challenge
Husky Classic
Bulldog Classic
Texas Invitational
Two more tournaments.


@ LSU in the LSU Invitational

http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=2174&SPSID=27871
 

The Schedule is out!!!!

From Gophersports.com:

The University of Minnesota Gophers released the 2017 softball schedule, head coach Jessica Allister announced Tuesday. They are slated to play 54 games with 16 being played at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium.

The Maroon and Gold will play five games against teams that finished in the NCAA top-25 a season ago and 22 games will be against teams that competed in the NCAA Tournament.

“Our 2017 schedule is challenging, and will prepare us well for Big Ten and postseason play,” Allister said. “After a productive fall semester I look forward to getting back to work as a team beginning with our January training trip to Florida.”

The first eight weeks of the season will send Minnesota on the road. They will start somewhere new this year heading down to Austin, Texas to kick things off. They will play a familiar foe in Big Ten opponent Maryland (12-40), 2016 NCAA Tournament team Texas (38-16) and Colorado State (22-24). Last year Minnesota swept Maryland in conference play and used just 15 innings to do so.

The following weekend Minnesota will take part in the B1G/ACC Challenge for the second straight year. They will play four games in Raleigh, N.C. with two against Notre Dame (43-13) and two against NC State (23-33). Notre Dame finished No. 23 in the country last season. The Gophers went 2-2 at the first ever B1G/ACC Challenge last year.

To wrap up February the Gophers will play five games in Fresno, Calif. They play UC Davis (15-35) twice and Fresno State (42-12-1), Cal Poly (27-23) and Idaho State (28-23) each once. Fresno State competed in the NCAA Tournament last season.

March will get started down in Baton Rouge, La. for the Maroon and Gold. They will play four tough games there including one against FAU (51-9) and another against LSU (52-18). The Gophers defeated FAU in 1-0 pitcher’s duel behind Sara Groenewegen’s perfect game last year. LSU finished as the No. 3 team in the country. While in Baton Rouge they will also play Troy (31-25) and Illinois State (20-33).

Over spring break Minnesota will play nine games in eight days starting with a tournament in Seattle, Wash. While in Seattle the Gophers will play Seattle University (19-33) twice, South Dakota (15-38) once and will get a rematch against Washington (39-15) with two games scheduled against them. Washington topped Minnesota three times last year including twice in the NCAA Regionals.

The Gophers will head down the coast with a game against Oregon State (30-20-1), one against California (33-24-1) and a doubleheader against Pacific (20-28) to end spring break and road nonconference play. Both Oregon State and California were NCAA Tournament teams.

The first Big Ten trip of the year for the Gophers will be at Nebraska (35-21). Last year Minnesota beat the Cornhuskers 6-0 and followed it up with an 11-10 walkoff victory the next day. The scheduled third game was cancelled due to weather. Nebraska was in and out of the top-25 all season long and played in the NCAA Tournament last year. The eight week road stretch will finish at Illinois (36-23) for the Maroon and Gold. They swept the Fighting Illini a season ago with 13-0, 6-5 and 6-2 victories. Illinois was an NCAA Tournament. The Gophers first home action of the season will be on April 5 for a midweek doubleheader against South Dakota.

The first weekend series at Jane Sage Cowles will pit the Gophers against Indiana (29-25). The last time the two teams met was in 2013 with Minnesota picking up a sweep at home. The next week Minnesota will host Northwestern (27-28). Last year the Gophers went 2-1 at Northwestern and also topped the Wildcats in the B1G Tournament semifinals.

April stays jam packed as the Maroon and Gold will head off for a midweek doubleheader at Wisconsin (28-24-1) on April 19 looking to avenge two losses to the Badgers last year.

Minnesota will close out April with eight games at home including a weekend series against Iowa (13-39), a midweek doubleheader against NDSU (39-15) and a weekend series against Purdue (27-28). The Gophers swept both Iowa and Purdue last year and knocked NDSU out of the NCAA Tournament.

The final regular season series of the year will send the Gophers to Penn State (30-24). The last time the two teams met was in 2014 with Minnesota coming away with the sweep.

The B1G Tournament is set for May 11-13 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Minnesota has won two out of the last three tournaments including last year’s 10-inning thriller over Michigan.

The NCAA Tournament is scheduled to begin on May 18. The Gophers have now taken a program record four straight trips there.

2017 Schedule
 



Gophers non conference schedule

Maryland 12-40
Texas 38-16 Made the tourney
Colorado State 22-24
Texas
Maryland

Notre Dame 43-13 Made the tourney
Notre Dame
North Carolina State 23-33
North Carolina State

UC Davis 15-35
Fresno State 42-12-1 Made the tourney
UC Davis
Cal Poly 27-23
Idaho State 28-23

Troy 31-25
Florida Atlantic 51-9 Made the tourney (Coached by the incomparable Joan Joyce)
LSU 52-18 Made the World Series
Illinois State 20-33

Seattle U 19-33
Washington 39-15 Made the tourney
Seattle
Washington
South Dakota 15-38

Oregon State 30-20-1 Made the tourney
California 33-24-1 Made the tourney
Pacific 25-16-1
Pacific

South Dakota (Mid season double header)
South Dakota

North Dakota State 39-15 Made the tourney (Mid season double header)
North Dakota State
 

Gophers open up Feb 10 in Texas. This is Allister's 7th year. She took over a team that went 16-37 and 2-17 in the Big Ten in 2010

2011-31-24 record, 9-11 conference (Moulton makes 43 starts)
2012-31-22 record, 10-14 conference (Moulton makes 40 starts)
2013-36-19 record, 14-6 conference (Made the Tournament. Moulton makes 45 starts)
2014-42-12 record, 16-6 conference (Made the Tournament. Won the Regional. Lost in the Super Regional. Moulton makes 37 starts and Groenewegen starts 17)
2015-49-11 record, 20-3 conference (Made the Tournament. Sara G starts 39 and Stober starts 13)
2016-43-14 record, 19-3 conference (Made the tournament. Sara G starts 39 and Anderson starts 11)

2010, the squad made 86 errors
2011-61
2012-46
2013-49
2014-62
2015-46
2016-58

2010 team had an ERA of 4.52 and opponents scored 286 runs and hit .287
2011 ERA-3.02 and opponents scored 191 runs and hit .248
2012 ERA-2.50 and opponents scored 152 runs and hit .217
2013 ERA-2.41 and opponents scored 156 runs and hit .234
2014 ERA-2.00 and opponents scored 132 runs and hit .195 (Moulton and Groenewegen)
2015 ERA-2.34 and opponents scored 168 runs and hit .220
2016 ERA-2.72 and opponents scored 190 runs and hit .236

2010 team hit a collective .217
2011-.248
2012-.266
2013-.247
2014-.284
2015-.339
2016-.318

Strikeouts for Gopher pitchers in 2010-298
2011-428
2012-365
2013-371
2014-487
2015-501
2016-441

Opponents stole 91 bases in 113 attempts in 2010
2011-49 out of 59
2012-27 out of 41
2013-33 out of 40
2014-49 out of 55
2015-28 out of 40
2016-27 out of 35

Gopher hitters striking out in 2010-302 in 1302 at bats
2011-297 in 1378 at bats
2012-306 in 1333 at bats
2013-314 in 1330 at bats
2014-245 in 1406 at bats
2015-203 in 1609 at bats
2016-237 in 1534 at bats

Without any unforeseen situations, would assume they will make the tournament. To get out of the Regional another pitcher probably needs to step up unless everything goes perfectly. (I'm already curious who Allister will throw against Maryland in the opener, since they see Texas later in the day.)
 

If I were a betting man, I'd say Maryland native Tori Finucane in the opener.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

College season opens up on Thursday with some nice contests.

#1 Oklahoma and #2 Auburn square off in a rematch of last years College World Series finalists. Not a bad game on the first day.
#9 Oregon will face Virginia.
#12 Arizona versus Fordham.
#21 Baylor against Fordham.
#23 Florida Atlantic plays North Florida.
T#24 California plays Georgia Tech.
T#24 South Florida squares off with Illinois State.

Nebraska (which received votes in the poll) is the only B1G team in action on Thursday. They will play BYU.

Gophers are #14 in the ESPN poll, #16 in the USA Today.
 

College season opens up on Thursday with some nice contests.

#1 Oklahoma and #2 Auburn square off in a rematch of last years College World Series finalists. Not a bad game on the first day.
#9 Oregon will face Virginia.
#12 Arizona versus Fordham.
#21 Baylor against Fordham.
#23 Florida Atlantic plays North Florida.
T#24 California plays Georgia Tech.
T#24 South Florida squares off with Illinois State.

Nebraska (which received votes in the poll) is the only B1G team in action on Thursday. They will play BYU.

Gophers are #14 in the ESPN poll, #16 in the USA Today and sit at #20 in the all important RPI.

RPI does not get released until later in the season. It's a formula based off of team's records. So if there hasn't been any games played, there can be no RPI.

The #20 you're seeing is where they finished last year.
 

RPI does not get released until later in the season. It's a formula based off of team's records. So if there hasn't been any games played, there can be no RPI.

The #20 you're seeing is where they finished last year.

You are 100% correct. I will fix it.
 


What the expectations for this year? Another NCAA tournament appearance or a rebuilding year?
 


Maryland had a rough go of it last year. Pitchers, as a staff, had a 7.15 ERA. Not much power on the club last year, only 18 home runs total. They do return their top three hitters from last season however. Ellazar, Dillard and Calta. Ellazar hit a scorching .399 with 12 doubles and 4 home runs.
8 out of the 18 on the roster hail from California with Ellazar coming from Hawaii. Added one Freshman pitcher to the roster, Lauren Graves from Arkansas. Looks like she is a hitter also.

Looks like Texas returns their #1 and #2 pitchers from last year. No new ones in the Freshmen class on the roster.
Left hander Tiara Davis started 35 of their 55 games and appeared in 40, 213 innings pitched with a 1.97 ERA. 186 strikeouts to go with 110 base on balls and 25 HBP and 173 hits. Opponents hit .219
Paige Von Sprecken started 12 games and appeared in 25. The right hander had 61 strikeouts in 98.2 innings. She had 2.91 ERA and gave up 105 hits along with 58 base on balls. Opponents hit .274
Lost their best hitter to graduation. Von Sprecken led the squad in BA, but only tallied 44 at bats.
Former JC All American Celina Felix is the next best. She started every game and hit .358 with 8 home runs and a .421 on base percentage.

Colorado State is coming off a 22-24 season and the Rams had pitching woes last year. The most experienced thrower is right hander Bridgette Hutton. Started 14 games and appeared in 23. She had an ERA of 5.31 and gave up 109 hits in 91 innings along with 44 base on balls. Do have a Freshman pitcher named Alison Petty from San Diego.
Very good hitting shortstop in Haley Hutton. Hit over .400, leading the team. Also led in runs scored and steals. Amber Nelson also returns. She led the team in slugging % and hit .343 with 6 home runs.
 


What the expectations for this year? Another NCAA tournament appearance or a rebuilding year?

Ski U Mah Gopher and GopherGoldy4 are more qualified than I to answer your question, but my answer is a resounding yes for the tourney.
 

Ski U Mah Gopher and GopherGoldy4 are more qualified than I to answer your question, but my answer is a resounding yes for the tourney.
Agreed. They're ranked in the top 20 in the preseason polls and coach Allister has already stated this is the deepest pitching staff she's had in her tenure at the U. Most previews I've read are asking if this is the year they unseat Michigan at the top of the conference and how far they can go in the NCAAs rather than whether they can simply make the tourney. Should be a fun year.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Tapatalk
 

Ski U Mah Gopher and GopherGoldy4 are more qualified than I to answer your question, but my answer is a resounding yes for the tourney.

With the depth of pitching, a top 16 seed is a possibility. The question is how will the revamped outfield play defensively.
 

With the depth of pitching, a top 16 seed is a possibility. The question is how will the revamped outfield play defensively.

I think the outfield will be fine. Brandt and Houlihan are not outfielders but they are great athletes. This should be a fun team to watch.
 

I think the outfield will be fine. Brandt and Houlihan are not outfielders but they are great athletes. This should be a fun team to watch.

I did see Maddie take some weird routes to the ball during the fall games, but she probably spent most of winter break in the facility working on getting better jumps on the ball.
 

I did see Maddie take some weird routes to the ball during the fall games, but she probably spent most of winter break in the facility working on getting better jumps on the ball.

The transition will be more difficult for Houlihan. I saw Brandt play quite a bit of summer ball where she didn't pitch all the time and she has good instincts as a middle-infielder which translates a lot more easily to the outfield.
 




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