Minnesota Scene: Gophers softball, baseball teams both win Big Ten openers

The No. 8 Gophers softball team routed Nebraska 16-0 in five innings Friday in Lincoln, Neb., in its Big Ten opener.

Danielle Parlich hit a three-run homer for Minnesota (26-2) and drove in a fourth run with a single. Sam Macken knocked in three runs, two on a double.

This was the fourth consecutive game the Gophers scored 10 or more runs.

Alex Boxwell hit a solo homer and Jordan Smith had an RBI single and scored a run after a triple to lead the Gophers to a 5-2 victory over Ohio State on Friday in a Big Ten baseball opener in Columbus.

Lucas Gilreath pitched the first 6⅔ innings for the Gophers (12-8). He gave up both runs to the Buckeyes (9-12) but struck out seven.

The Gophers and Buckeyes will play a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

• Senior Matt Barnard of the Gophers placed seventh in 3-meter diving at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in Indianapolis.

• Madeline Strandemo, a Gophers junior, won the 3,000 steeplechase at the Raleigh (N.C.) Relays in 10:07.46, a meet record.

• Gus Varland of Concordia (St. Paul) was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's pitcher of the week after throwing a no-hitter against Southwest Minnesota State. The sophomore righthander from Maplewood struck out 14 in seven innings in a 6-1 win over the Mustangs.

• St. Cloud State's Austin Goergen, a senior from Caledonia, Minn., was named the NCAA Division II's most dominant wrestler for 2016-17. He was 32-2 with 20 falls and finished third in the national meet at heavyweight.

• The visiting Gophers men's tennis team (12-4, 1-1) beat Nebraska 7-0.

• Two former Minnesota State Mankato hockey players, forward Michael Huntebrinker and defenseman Sean Flanagan, recently signed pro contracts with Reading (Pa.) of the ECHL.

• Seventy-nine athletes on Gophers winter sports teams were named academic all-conference in the Big Ten.