Minnesota narrowly escaped Michigan State with a one-run victory in its first game of the Big Ten college softball tournament at Devon Park. The Spartans committed an embarrassing out that might’ve killed all of their momentum and ultimately proved to be the difference.
They got caught celebrating!
I have watched a lot of college baseball and college softball over the last decade. Mistakes happen. Games get sloppy. Players often get caught in awkward situations that can lead to some unusual outs. Never before have I seen what happened in Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon.
Third baseman Hannah Hawley knocked a deep fly ball off of the wall in right field to begin the third inning. It looked for a moment like the ball was going to get out for a home run, but it took a hard dip at the last second and bounced back into play. The throw did not beat the runner to second base. She reached safely.
Hawley was fired up about the leadoff double and looked back to celebrate with the dugout. That proved to be a huge mistake. Gophers shortstop Margaret Tobias kept the ball in her glove right next to the base.
As soon as Hawley jumped up in the air, Tobais tagged her in the back. Both of her feet were off of the bag during the jump, so she was ruled out!
Check out this heads up play from @MargaretTobias1 to get an out in the 3rd! 👀#SkiUMah pic.twitter.com/wonJukl3i8
— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) March 13, 2025
Although Michigan State did not get a runner on base during the remainder of the third inning, it feels like Hawley’s leadoff double could’ve sparked a rally. There was an opportunity to score a run that was squandered by a seemingly harmless celebration. Tobias either got lucky or knew exactly what she was doing.
Either way, Minnesota successfully executed the most creative out of the college softball season thus far. And the heads-up play might’ve proved to be the difference in what finished as a one-run game!