The Minnesota Golden Gopher softball team came up short in their bid to advance to the Super Regional, falling to No. 2 ranked UCLA 3-1 on Sunday evening.
The Gophers came into the day needing two wins against the Bruins to advance to the Super Regionals and took an early lead when Megan Dray hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning.
Don't look now, @mdray5 started up the home run machine for the day! pic.twitter.com/pMySvcNFYd
— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 23, 2021
Although Minnesota had a chance to do more damage, UCLA made a pitching change, removing Megan Fairimo for their ace Rachel Garcia.
Garcia was able to get out of the inning and allowed the Bruins to take the lead in the fourth on a two-RBI single from Kinsley Washington. The Bruins extended their lead in the top of the sixth when Washington added a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game.
Gophers starter Autumn Pease kept Minnesota in the game while allowing three runs and striking out seven in a complete game and the Gophers mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh.
After Briana Perez committed a throwing error to put the tying run on second base, Markenna Partain flew out to left field to end the game and the Gophers’ season.
Minnesota finished their season with a record of 31-13 on the season and finished second in the Big Ten with a record of 29-11
