Heise among eight seniors coming back to Gophers women’s hockey

The Gopher women’s hockey program will have eight seniors back for the 2022-23 season as each has accepted the additional season of eligibility granted by the NCAA because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Taylor Heise, Abigail Boreen, Crystalyn Hengler, Savannah Norcross, Emily Oden, Gracie Ostertag, Catie Skaja and Grace Zumwinkle will all return.

Heise was the third Patty Kazmaier Award winner in program history this past season. Zumwinkle returns after redshirting during the 2021-22 season to play for the U.S. team in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“We are thrilled to have these players coming back to our team for their final year of eligibility,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said. “Each of them have tremendous experience and have played a significant role in our culture and program.”

Upset for U softball

Natalie DenHartog hit a three-run homer —her 16th of the season — in the third inning as the Gophers beat No. 22 Michigan 3-2 in Ann Arbor in Big Ten softball.

Emily Leavitt of Minnesota (22-20-1, 7-9 Big Ten) held the Wolverines (29-15, 9-8) to one run and two hits the first five innings for the win. Autumn Pease pitched the final two innings for the save.

Etc.

• Abigail Schaaffe of the Gophers finished second in the 400-meter hurdles at the Drake Relays in Des Moines. Her time of 56.90 seconds was the second best in program history.

The Gophers women’s tennis team lost 4-0 to No. 10 Ohio State in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Championship in Iowa City. The Buckeyes (19-4) won their 11th straight match, getting the doubles points, and wining in straight sets at No. 4, 5 and 6 singles. Minnesota finishes 18-10.

• Carleton College named Ryan Kershaw its men’s basketball coach9. He replaces Guy Kalland, who announced his retirement in March following 38 seasons. Kershaw recently completed his ninth season as the Knights’ top assistant and has served as the program’s associate head coach since the 2019-20 season.

• The Gophers men’s golf team was in 11th place after the first day of the Big Ten Championship in French Lick, Ind., with a 10-over 298. Michigan State led with a 12-under 276. Minnesota’s top individual was Ben Warian, tied for 17th with an even-par 72.
• Minnesota State Moorhead named Chad Markuson, the Dragon’s interim athletic director since last spring, to the position permanently.
• St. Cloud State redshirt freshman pitcher Luke Tupy, of New Prague, Minn., was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Division II National Player of the Week. Tupy had the 28th perfect game in D-II history against Northern State last week. In seven innings, he struck out 15 — the second most in Huskies’ history.
• South Dakota State’s Tori Kniesche struck out 20 batters and threw her second consecutive no-hitter as the Jackrabbits (34-10, 15-2 Summit) completed series sweep with a 5-0 victory over visiting St. Thomas (12-33, 7-11).
• The St. Paul Saints’ home game with Nashville on Friday night was suspended because of wet field conditions. The game, tied 3-3 through six innings, will be resumed at 12:30 p.m. Saturday before the originally scheduled game at 2:07 p.m.
• Riley Swenson hit a two-run homer and had an RBI single for the Gophers, but they lost 8-4 to Michigan State in East Lansing in Big Ten baseball. The Spartans (19-21, 4-9) built a 6-0 lead after six innings vs. Minnesota (12-28, 2-11).