TUCSON, ARIZ. – The Gophers know what they have to do Sunday.
Beat host Arizona, the No. 12 overall seed in the NCAA softball tournament, twice.
If they do that, the Gophers (48-10) will win the Tucson Regional and move on to the SuperRegionals for the second year in a row. Otherwise their season's over.
On Saturday, the Gophers lost to the host Wildcats 5-1 in the winners' bracket final, then in an elimination game edged New Mexico State 2-0 to stay alive.
Sophomore righthander Sara Gronewegen, a finalist for the national player of the year, started both games and fared quite differently in each.
She lasted only 2 ⅓ innings against Arizona, which leads the all-time series with the Gophers 21-2. But she pitched a two-hitter and got out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam against New Mexico State in the second game.
"I thought we did a pretty decent job with [Groenewegen] and she is a good pitcher," Arizona coach Mike Candrea said. "She kind of lost it there for a little bit. But I am sure if they get through tonight [Minnesota did], she will be back on the mound, and we will expect nothing but the best from her."
At her best, Groenewegen can dominate.