Lauren Barnes' first two goals of the season sparked the Minnesota Whitecaps to a 4-1 victory over the host Connecticut Whale on Sunday in their regular-season finale.

The' victory, coupled with Buffalo's 4-3 shootout loss to Metropolitan, gave the Whitecaps (12-4-0) the National Women's Hockey League regular-season title.

Allie Thunstrom's first-period goal gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead. Both of Barnes' goals came in the second period as the Whitecaps built a 3-1 lead.

The Whitecaps will play host to a NWHL semifinal at 1:30 p.m. next Sunday at TRIA Rink.

U baseball falls in ninth

North Carolina State scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to rally for a 5-4 baseball victory over the Gophers in Raleigh, N.C. Ben Mezzenga drove in two runs and Jack Wassel and Drew Hmielewski each had two hits and an RBI for the Gophers (2-8).

Fiser fans 12 in victory

Amber Fiser allowed just five hits and an unearned run, pitching the Gophers softball team to a 5-2 victory over No. 19 James Madison in Tucson, Ariz. Fiser struck out 12 — including the first eight outs of the game.

Allie Arenson was 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Gophers.

Etc.

• The No. 17 Gophers men's tennis team closed out the nonconference portion of its schedule with a 6-1 win over Drake at the Baseline Tennis Center.

• Chisholm native John Shuster and Cory Christensen of Duluth won the USA Curling mixed doubles national championship, defeating Chris Plys and Vicky Persinger 7-5 in the title match in Seattle.

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