The Gophers went to the Citrus Classic in Orlando to play five softball games. They arrived ranked No. 11 in one major poll, No. 13 in another.
And the tournament started well for them on Friday. Sophomore righthander Sara Groenewegen pitched a one-hitter and struck out 14, tying her career high, as the Gophers beat a strong Mississippi State team 5-0 in the first game.
That win gave Minnesota a 14-1 record -- matching last year's start, which was the best in program history.
Then the Gophers hit a wall, or so it seems, losing three games in a row in different ways.
In their second game, the Gophers lost to James Madison 8-2. Freshman Kylie Stober started for Minnesota and got pounded. She gave up six hits, two walks and four runs, all earned in 1-1/3 innings. Junior Nikki Anderson relieved her and, in 4-2/3 innings, was also pretty hittable. She allowed 12 hits, a walked one, hit a batter, and gave up four runs, two earned.
With the win, James Madison improved to 6-4.
After two games were rained out on Saturday, the Gophers played Fordham on Sunday morning. Anderson started and it was bad. The first eight hitters got on base before Anderson was relieved without getting an out.
It was 9-0 by the time the inning ending. Final score: Fordham 10, Gophers 5. There was one positive from that game. Stober pitched six innings in relief and gave up one run, unearned.