Minnesota Softball advances in NCAA Tournament following 7-2 win over NDSU!

15. Straight. Wins.

Minnesota Softball is hot at the best time of the season. The Gophers tied a program record for consecutive wins last night with a 7-2 victory over North Dakota State at the Seattle Regional. NDSU took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but after that it was all Gophers:

Sydney Fabian got things rolling in the third inning with a big double to left center. Sam Macken brought her home dropping an RBI single to right center tying up the game.

The Maroon and Gold forced a three up, three down in the top of the fourth and started to get their bats going taking the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Kayla Wenner stepped to the plate with two outs and ripped a single right up the middle. Sydney Dwyerbrought her home smacking a double while advancing to third on an error. Dwyer was able to slide home on a wild pitch pushing the Gophers lead to 3-1 after four.

NDSU looked like they were going to punch right back loading the bases with no outs to start the fifth. Sara Groenewegen came through striking out the next three batters.

[snip]

Danielle Parlich and Maddie Houlihan smacked back-to-back doubles early in the bottom of the fifth to score a run. Taylor LeMay placed a single to left right after bringing in another. 

Paige Palkovich stepped up next and despite falling behind in the count 0-2 battled back to eventually launch a two run homer over the left field wall putting the Gophers up 7-1 after five. 

Nikki Anderson pitched the final two innings. She forced NDSU to hit into a double play in the sixth as Parlich fielded and threw over to Dwyer who turned on it to complete the play to a stretching Houlihan at first. Anderson finished only allowing one hit that went for a home run in the final two innings.

Cue the rouser! pic.twitter.com/VFIolbzHH1

— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 21, 2016

Sara Groenewegen did Sara Groenewegen things, striking out 11 batters and moving into the NCAA wins lead with 31 on the season. The Gophers face Washington (who beat Weber State 14-6) at 3pm CT today. Minnesota is 2-5 all time against the Huskies.

How to watch Minnesota vs. Washington

- Watch the Gophers live Saturday afternoon at 3pm and through the rest of the weekend on Pac-12.com.

Remaining Regional Schedule

Saturday, May 21
Game 3: Minnesota vs. Washington, 3 p.m. CT
Game 4: NDSU vs. Weber State, 5:30 p.m. CT
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m. CT

Sunday, May 22
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 2 p.m. CT
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 4:30 p.m. CT

Note: The winner of the regional in Seattle will move on to a Super Regional against the winner of the regional being hosted by Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. If Minnesota wins the Seattle Regional, they would host the Super Regional if any team besides Alabama wins in Tuscaloosa.