Sara Moulton won her 100th career game on a three-hitter as the Gophers edged South Carolina 1-0 Wednesday in nonconference softball in Columbia, S.C.
Minnesota (22-3) scratched for its only run in the top of the seventh on a walk, a hit batter and dropped pop-up by the Gamecocks' shortstop.
Moulton, a senior righthander from Eagan now 15-2 this season, struck out nine in outdueling Julie Sarratt, who pitched a one-hitter. Moulton's 100 victories and 44 career shutouts are both program records.
The No. 16 Gophers open their Big Ten season Friday at No. 17 Nebraska.
Banham again MVP
Junior guard Rachel Banham was named team MVP for the second year in a row at the Gophers women's basketball banquet on Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. Sari Noga and Amanda Zahui B. were the co-Defensive Players of the Year, Jackie Johnson was named the Most Improved Player, and Zahui B. received the Love of the Game Award. Shayne Mullaney was named the Most Outstanding Scholar.
Banham, Noga and Micaëlla Riché received the Coaches' Award for leadership and work ethic. The Gopher Award, for being an model student-athlete, and the Fast Break Club Award — given by the team's fan club — went to Noga, too.
U clobbers St. Mary's
The Gophers beat St. Mary's 12-1 in nonconference baseball Wednesday in Moraga, Calif., to finish their road trip to California 4-1.
Minnesota (11-6) scored in six of nine innings. Mark Tatera's two-run single in the third inning gave the Gophers a 3-1 lead. They scored three more runs in the fifth, two on an error and the third on Jake Bergren's delayed steal of home.
