BTN.com staff, May 8, 2015
Day 2 of the 2015 Big Ten Softball Tournament featured four entertaining games on BTN/BTN2Go.
[ MORE: View our 2015 Big Ten Softball Tournament homepage ]
No. 4 Northwestern started the day with a 3-0 shutout win over No. 12 Purdue. Following that, No. 1 Michigan run-ruled No. 9 Penn State, 16-1, No. 3 Nebraska topped No. 6 Ohio State, 5-2, and No. 10 Iowa upset No. 2 Minnesota, 2-0. The Wildcats and Wolverines will meet in semifinals at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday. The Cornhuskers will play the Hawkeyes at 6 p.m. ET Saturday. The winners will play in the championship game at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Catch up on all of the day's quarterfinal action below:
NORTHWESTERN 3, PURDUE 0: BOX | RECAP | VIDEO
Kristen Wood tossed a three-hit shutout and No. 4 seed Northwestern played small ball to perfection, scratching out three runs against one of the conference's top pitchers to defeat No. 12 seed Purdue Friday, 3-0, in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game at Buckeye Field.
Don't run on @NUSBcats LF Olivia Duehr, or she'll do this. http://t.co/gpZQw7Z0xU
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 8, 2015
#BTNStandout alert: @PurdueSoftball CF Kristen Hoppman just made this fantastic grab at the @B1Gsoftball tourney. http://t.co/nBjkZAOcZR
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 8, 2015
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MICHIGAN 16, PENN STATE 1 (5): BOX | RECAP | VIDEO
The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan softball team kicked off the postseason in style, putting up 13 runs in the second inning to cruise to 16-1, five-inning decision against Penn State in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Friday afternoon (May 8) at Buckeye Field. With victory, the Wolverines extended their win streak to 18 in a row.
One swing = four runs. Sierra Romero drives it out of the park for the @umichsoftball grand slam. http://t.co/HYBLbvmC4s
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 8, 2015
Record round tripper: Tera Blanco blasts @umichsoftball's 104th home run of the season, topping 2005 team's total. http://t.co/Xz6WLwjh2o
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 8, 2015
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NEBRASKA 5, OHIO STATE 2: BOX | RECAP | VIDEO
The Nebraska softball team opened postseason play with a 5-2 win over host Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament Friday evening at Buckeye Field.
Why are members of the @Huskersoftball team dressed as Mario, Luigi and Iron Man? Find out here! http://t.co/rjU1mbuHew
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 8, 2015
This is what a picture-perfect double play looks like! @OhioState_SB's Maddy McIntyre doubles up Nebraska. See here. http://t.co/IwRVwhiS9p
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) May 8, 2015
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IOWA 2, MINNESOTA 0: BOX | RECAP | VIDEO
Iowa pitcher Shayla Starkenburg held No. 2-seeded Minnesota to just two hits and struck out four in a 2-0 win over the Gophers in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament Friday night. The victory marked the first time Iowa has beaten Minnesota since back on May 12, 2012.
Who loves diving catches? We do! Check out this nice one from @IowaSoftball's Claire Fritsch. http://t.co/gOzuculRxj
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) May 9, 2015
How awesome is this! @Iowasoftball closes out the game with a double play to complete the 2-0 win over Minnesota. http://t.co/IBAgigrhqZ
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) May 9, 2015