Gopher Softball 2025

I’ll be very surprised if Piper isn’t given two years after this one no matter how bad the team performs in the field. Softball just isn’t enough of a priority here that coaches are fired just for losing unless it becomes more than 5-6 years straight.
Losing to Purdue today is another low point. Gophers have had 3 hits in 3of their last 4 games. Even good pitching can’t win with that little amount of hitting.
 

One hit through 6 innings today against Purdue. We need a hitting coach as 6 players in the lineup are hitting below 250. Pathetic!!!
 

We just need a recruiter that hits home runs with the players they bring in. The previous hitting coach didn’t teach Oakland how to hit.
 

You all have read a lot from me over the years on this message board; but I am out.

I just don’t care about Gophers softball at all anymore; not even a little bit.
 





Here I am in the familiar 2025 quandary, i. e., whether to drive 140 mi round-trip to see Gophers softball or do some work at home. Can't bear another blowout loss.
 

Unfortunately, Oregon is a bad team to come see if you want to avoid seeing blowout losses. I don’t know that Michigan is much better, but I’d trust us against them more than Oregon. If you came, I hope they get a really good pitching performance tonight.
 






There’s a very strong possibility that the gophers will be winless at home this year.
In B1G play, yes. They have some non-conference games coming up though.

But there’s more than a strong possibility that the Gophers will not qualify for the B1G tournament.
 



In B1G play, yes. They have some non-conference games coming up though.

But there’s more than a strong possibility that the Gophers will not qualify for the B1G tournament.
I’ve already eliminated them from the B1G tournament. Such a disappointing year from all aspects of the game (pitching, batting and fielding).
 

I said this over a year ago and I'll say it again louder for those of you in the back who missed it the first time. You will NEVER win a championship EVER with Piper as a head coach. EVER! She is NOT a leader nor a head coach period. Wake up! I would NEVER recommend sending my child, a friend, or any person to play under her. Pathetic.
 

Seems that errors cost the gophers yet another game? Even Chavez's usual brilliance has failed her a bit.
I said this over a year ago and I'll say it again louder for those of you in the back who missed it the first time. You will NEVER win a championship EVER with Piper as a head coach. EVER! She is NOT a leader nor a head coach period. Wake up! I would NEVER recommend sending my child, a friend, or any person to play under her. Pathetic.
I would add a charisma quotient of zero, but everyone here is surely already aware of what you say. The message should go more aptly to the AD, who most likely knows but doesn't care.
 

Well that was disappointing yesterday. The defense seems apathetic.
 

I've been to a fair number of games this season. It hasn't been pretty. First the negatives:

1) We are last in the country in stolen bases-3 total for reference, going into the weekend Oregon had 140+ and one player with 43 alone.
2) We are second to last in the B10 in fielding percentage. That's embarrassing. More to come on that later.
3) We are second to last in the B10 in batting average at .247 again...embarrassing. Coupled with our inability to steal/bunt/etc. it's not good.
4) We are 12th in the B10 in pitching. Not good by any means, but some teams that are near us in the pitching category are still having good seasons. Ohio St, Northwestern, Indiana. Coupled with our offensive deficiencies and fielding miscues, along with all of the non-plays...the pitching hasn't been good enough to pull us through.
5) A few individual players have seemingly stepped backwards-that is frustrating.

Reasons for optimism
1) losing Oakland was a serious blow. Offensively, the production, the protection in the lineup for Krapf, the fielding (causing Tobias to move to SS). Hard to pin this on anyone as it happened mid-year, but losing a player like that is going to have multiple effects.
2) Looking at current RPI rankings, the goal has to be beat every team that is above 50. We didn't do that this year, but I really feel, with Oakland here we win almost all of those games.

Our losses to 50+ rpi teams:

Utah 0-2/8-9 98
Villanova 8-10 111
St. Thomas 6-8 106
McNeese 0-2 85
Michigan State 11-13 168
Penn State 1-5 86
Purdue 1-2/0-4 62

Thats a 9-game swing.

Couple those with some of the close games we've had against the likes of Louisville, Duke, Northwestern, Oregon, Purdue...you get the idea.

3) we have been playing better; Schwartz seems to pitch ok on her first game of the weekend and Susa seems to be getting better. we have been in some close games but have either a couple of misfires or can't get the hit that we so desperately need. Valencia has been a bright spot in the lineup.

We can all agree that this season isn't what we wanted, but I'm not buying into the sky falling on this program.
 

I've been to a fair number of games this season. It hasn't been pretty. First the negatives:

1) We are last in the country in stolen bases-3 total for reference, going into the weekend Oregon had 140+ and one player with 43 alone.
2) We are second to last in the B10 in fielding percentage. That's embarrassing. More to come on that later.
3) We are second to last in the B10 in batting average at .247 again...embarrassing. Coupled with our inability to steal/bunt/etc. it's not good.
4) We are 12th in the B10 in pitching. Not good by any means, but some teams that are near us in the pitching category are still having good seasons. Ohio St, Northwestern, Indiana. Coupled with our offensive deficiencies and fielding miscues, along with all of the non-plays...the pitching hasn't been good enough to pull us through.
5) A few individual players have seemingly stepped backwards-that is frustrating.

Reasons for optimism
1) losing Oakland was a serious blow. Offensively, the production, the protection in the lineup for Krapf, the fielding (causing Tobias to move to SS). Hard to pin this on anyone as it happened mid-year, but losing a player like that is going to have multiple effects.
2) Looking at current RPI rankings, the goal has to be beat every team that is above 50. We didn't do that this year, but I really feel, with Oakland here we win almost all of those games.

Our losses to 50+ rpi teams:

Utah 0-2/8-9 98
Villanova 8-10 111
St. Thomas 6-8 106
McNeese 0-2 85
Michigan State 11-13 168
Penn State 1-5 86
Purdue 1-2/0-4 62

Thats a 9-game swing.

Couple those with some of the close games we've had against the likes of Louisville, Duke, Northwestern, Oregon, Purdue...you get the idea.

3) we have been playing better; Schwartz seems to pitch ok on her first game of the weekend and Susa seems to be getting better. we have been in some close games but have either a couple of misfires or can't get the hit that we so desperately need. Valencia has been a bright spot in the lineup.

We can all agree that this season isn't what we wanted, but I'm not buying into the sky falling on this program.
Add to that the loss of the associate head coach in late fall.
 

When the HC specializes in pitching and all of the pitching staff has horrible ERA/WHIP that's a pretty large problem
 

Does anyone know what kind of NIL money the program has? Really difficult to compete if other schools can steal your players or offer recruits more money.
 

When the HC specializes in pitching and all of the pitching staff has horrible ERA/WHIP that's a pretty large problem
Not going to entirely agree or disagree. But having to get 5 outs each inning...not the greatest for any pitcher. Tell me what pitcher, freshman or transfer is going to want to come here know we are second to last in the B10 in fielding and second to last in run support. Seems like a great time.

We are 3rd to last in the B10 in runs scored. 5 teams have scored double the runs we have this year.

We've also had three pitchers hurt/banged up this year. Larger problem is the lack of hitting/pressure on the bases/ then fielding/then pitching. But all phases have problems.
 




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