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Gophers softball team eliminated from NCAA Tournament

By Collin Kottke

Nov 28, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Golden Gophers cheer leader waves a flag while standing out on the field in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Badgers won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A Minnesota Golden Gophers cheer leader waves a flag while standing out on the field in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Badgers won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Golden Gopher softball team has been eliminated from the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers defeated Louisiana Tech in their first game on Sunday, but fell in a rematch with Alabama in the Tuscaloosa regional.

No one ever wants to admit that the NCAA was right on anything. Sadly, it looks like the NCAA might’ve been onto something with the seeding of the Minnesota Golden Gophers softball team in the NCAA Tournament. The Gophers played the 16th seed Alabama a total of 16 innings over two days and couldn’t score a single run against the SEC powerhouse.

In regional play, the Gophers played only two teams: Louisiana Tech and Alabama. Minnesota defeated Tech in both match-ups, but fell to Alabama in both match-ups in the double-elimination format.

The first game on Sunday for the Gophers didn’t go smoothly either. Minnesota defeated Tech 5-2, but it took nine innings for the Gophers to get it done. Kendal Lindaman hit a two-run RBI single in the ninth to give Minnesota the lead. Maddie Houlihan followed with an RBI to push it to the final of 5-2.

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The Alabama Crimson Tide didn’t need many runs and proved it by only scoring one run. Alabama started the rematch with Minnesota with a single followed by an RBI double that gave Alabama a 1-0 lead in the first inning. That’s how the game would finish. Another 1-0 loss to Alabama.

When the Gophers were perceived to be snubbed a week ago, it was mentioned how powerful the SEC was. All SEC teams made the NCAA Tournament. Alabama now advances to the super-regional and they will face fellow SEC school Florida.

How good is Alabama historically? The best quick example stat is the fact that with the win over the Gophers, the Crimson Tide are advancing to their 13th straight super-regional.

Minnesota finishes the season with a school best record of 56-5 and a Big Ten Championship.

Next: The big KAT has been big timed snubbed!

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