The Gopher Softball team knew they were going to need to find some additional pitching help next season to try and get back to the NCAA Tournament after losing legend Sara Groenewegen to graduation. Minnesota appears to have found that help in the form of LSU transfer Sydney Smith.
Smith is from Maple Grove and was a two-time Minnesota Gatorade Softball Player of the Year and Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year Award Winner. The 2015 graduate of Maple Grove High School finished her career with a 54-1 record as a pitcher and helped the Crimson win four consecutive conference and section championships and make the championship game of the state tournament in 2012 and 2014
She appeared in 23 games in her first season at LSU and made 17 starts for the Tigers leading the team in ERA at 1.