Gophers hire new Softball Coach

(Minneapolis, MN/Learfield News) — The University of Minnesota has found its new head softball coach. The Golden Gophers dipped into the N-C-A-A Division II ranks by hiring long-time Augustana (SD) coach Gretta Melsted. Melsted has won 813 games in 20 seasons at Augustana, including a 61-win campaign in 2019 when the Vikings won the D-II national championship. She is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Melsted is an Albert Lea native who played college softball and basketball at Carleton. She still holds the Carleton softball record for scoring the most runs in a single season. Melsted takes over for Piper Ritter, who was fired at the end of this past season after six seasons as head coach.