Minnesota Scene: Gophers split doubleheader with Illinois

The Gophers split a Big Ten doubleheader at Illinois on Friday, winning the first game 3-1 but losing the second 2-0.

In the opener, Jordan Smith had a tiebreaking two-run single in the sixth inning with two outs. Matt Fiedler got the victory, giving up one run on six hits in seven innings. Lucas Gilbreath pitched the last two innings for the save.

Lefthander Doug Hayes pitched an eight-hit shutout for the Illini in the second game, ending the Gophers' five-game winning streak in conference play. They had not been shut out this season.

Trent Hammond's bases-loaded single off Dalton Sawyer in the second inning drove in both runs for Illinois. Sawyer allowed just six hits in seven innings, but three came in the second.

Despite the loss, No. 19 Minnesota (26-13, 10-3) is still in first in the conference by one-half game over Michigan and Indiana. Illinois is 21-18, 7-7.

Junior Sara Groenewegen pitched her sixth career no-hitter — and third this season — as the Gophers routed visiting Maryland 10-0 in five innings in Big Ten softball.

"Whatever I can to help my team win, I am going to put it on the field," said Groenewegen, who struck out 10.

Sam Macken went 3-for-3 for the No. 23 Gophers (33-12, 14-3 Big Ten), with a three-run homer in the second inning. Houlihan hit her three-run shot in a six-run fourth.

Luke Johnson and Paul LaDue, two North Dakota juniors and natives of Grand Forks, N.D., have signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings, respectively.

Chicago drafted Johnson, a forward, in the fifth round in 2013. Johnson scored 11 goals and added 10 assists this past season.

The Kings drafted LaDue, a defenseman, in the sixth round in 2012. He had five goals and 14 assists

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• The Gophers 4x800-meter relay took first in the Drake Relays in 7 minutes, 23.54 seconds. Relay members were Goaner Deng, Mitch Hechsel, Shane Streich and Derek Wiebke. … The Minnesota women were third in the same relay in Des Moines, Iowa, in 8:41.30. Running were Stacy Swatek, Kate Shelerud, Paige Peschel and Ally McSherry.

• Minnesota State Mankato's Kelton Schmitz, a sophomore from New Ulm High School, was named the NSIC golfer of the year while Winona State's Michael Schmitz, a freshman from Bloomington Jefferson, was named newcomer of the year. Jeff Straight, in his first year at Winona State, was named conference coach of the year.