The No. 13 Gophers scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat host Michigan State 8-4 on Friday in Big Ten softball.

Hannah Granger hit a two-run homer in the seventh to put the Gophers (35-7, 10-3 conference) ahead 5-3 and, two batters later, Erica Meyer hit another two-run shot. A fifth run scored on a fielder's choice.

U wins in baseball

Jordan Smith hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and Ben Meyer pitched seven strong innings as the Gophers beat Penn State 6-1 at Siebert Field in Big Ten baseball.

Meyer allowed only one run and six hits. Center fielder Dan Motl, who has a 16-game hitting streak, singled and scored in the first inning and had a run-scoring single in the second as the Gophers (14-19, 4-9 conference) took a 3-0 lead.

Ninth-grader commits

Luverne High School freshman forward Jaxon Nelson verbally committed to play college hockey for the Gophers on Thursday.

Nelson, already 6-1, 180 pounds, had 91 points (44 goals, 47 assists) in 28 games as a ninth-grader at the small high school in the southwest corner of Minnesota.

As an eighth-grader, he had 74 points while leading Luverne to its first state tournament appearance.

Nelson's first college hockey season will likely be 2018-19. He's the first Luverne player to be offered a Division I hockey scholarship.

JASON GONZALEZ

Etc.

• The Lynx, needing to make room for the players the team acquired on draft day, began the process Friday by waiving Nadirah McKenith. The 5-8 guard, signed last June 24, appeared in six games for the Lynx last season, averaging 0.7 in points and rebounds.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

• The Gophers edged Purdue 4-3 in women's tennis on Senior Day at the Baseline Tennis Center. Paula Rincon Otero of Minnesota beat Deborah Suarez 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to break a 3-all tie.