The Gophers took a big step toward a fourth consecutive title on Friday in the Big Ten women's swimming and diving meet in Columbus, Ohio
After leading only by 36 points over second-place Michigan after Day 2, the Gophers won three individual events and placed three in the top eight of the 100-yard butterfly to expand their lead to 47.5 points into the final day.
The Gophers had 421.5 points, followed by Indiana (374) and the Wolverines (331.5).
Freshman Brooke Zeiger won the 400 individual medley (4:03.28) by almost five seconds and junior Kierra Smith took first in the 100 breaststroke (59.32).
Yu Zhou, who won the 1-meter diving event on Thursday, took first in the 3-meter diving as well with 411.55 points.
And in the butterfly, Rebecca Weiland finished fourth (52.35) while Tori Simenec and Danielle Nack were sixth and seventh, respectively, giving Minnesota 40 points or twice as many as the winner earned. Those three butterfliers and Smith also swam on the fourth-place 400 medley relay.
U softball wins two
The No. 15 Gophers softball team won two games Friday in the Diamond Devil Invitational in Tempe, Ariz., to improve to 10-1.
Sophomore righthander Sara Groenewegen threw a four-hitter and struck out 11 as Minnesota beat New Mexico State 6-1. Taylor LeMay and Erica Meyer hit solo homers and Richardson had three hits and two RBI.
