Just over six years after she was hired, the University of Minnesota announced Friday that Piper Ritter has been fired as the head coach of the softball team. "I want to thank Piper for dedicating more than 20 years to the Gopher softball program as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She coached and developed some of the best pitchers and players in program history," Minnesota athletics director Mark Coyle said in a statement. "However, the program has taken a step back in the last three years and a new voice is needed. We wish Piper all the best in the future. We will immediately begin a nationwide search for our next head coach." Ritter was hired on May 3, 2020, with Coyle at the time saying Ritter was "the right person for the job." The immediate results were promising as the 2021 Gophers finished 31-13, including 29-11 in the Big Ten. They reached the NCAA Tournament in 2021, 2022, and 2023, but missed the tournament each of the past three seasons.…