After shutting down Northwestern 4-0 in Saturday’s Big Ten Tournament semifinals, the Gopher softball team lost a close one, 3-2, to Michigan in the tournament title game.
Michigan entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed and Minnesota, despite a higher national ranking, was the No. 3 seed.
Minnesota trailed 3-0 entering the sixth inning and came out swinging following a weather delay. Hope Brandner slugged a solo homer – her 18th of the season – to cut the deficit to two runs, and a sacrifice fly made it a 3-2 game going to the final inning.
This @_hopebabyy_ home run video just gave us LIFE 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vpx45GqhZ4
— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 11, 2019
Amber Fiser, Minnesota’s star pitcher, held Michigan scoreless in the top half of the seventh but the Gophers’ comeback bid ended on Brandner’s warning track fly out.
The loss snaps Minnesota’s streak of three straight Big Ten Tournament titles, and now they await their NCAA Tournament fate, which will be decided during Sunday’s selection show.
