University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Augsburg
Gophers Dominate in Home Opener
3/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Box Score: Minnesota 10, Augsburg 3 
In its first game inside the friendly confines of Siebert Field, Minnesota dominated in every facet of the game in a 10-3 win against in-state foe Augsburg on Tuesday. The Gophers (10-8) collected 16 hits from 11 different sources, while limiting the Auggies (7-7) to just four as a team.
Connor Schaefbauer paced the offense for the home team with a 2-for-2 performance and a career-high four RBI. Micah Coffey, Matt Fiedler, Cole McDevitt and Dan Motl each chimed in with a pair of hits, including two extra-base hits.
On the mound, the Maroon and Gold used five pitchers to complete the game. Earning the win in his first start of the season was Cody Campbell who limited the opposition to just one hit in 3.0 flawless innings.
Minnesota went to work early as it plated three runs on four hits in its first chance at the plate. After Motl and Fiedler notched singles, Coffey flared a single through the right side to score one. Schaefbauer then stepped to the plate and drilled a two-out hit that brought in two more and give the Gophers a 3-0 lead after one frame.
The Maroon and Gold then reeled off scoring outputs of four, one and two between the third and fifth frames to extend their lead to 10-0.
In the third, Schaefbauer again was on the end of an RBI hit -- this time, a double down the right field line to score Eddie Estrada, who preceded with a double of his own. In the ensuing at-bat, Jordan Smith slapped a single to right field to score another. After a stolen base and a McDevitt base knock, Motl and Terrin Vavra notched back-to-back RBI singles to cap the stanza.
Coffey opened the fourth with a double and was advanced to third on a ground out. Staying true to his performance, Schaefbauer delivered with a sacrifice fly to plate Minnesota's eighth run of the tilt.
The Gophers wrapped up their scoring in the fifth stanza. McDevitt drilled a double in the left-center gap and was brought around on a fielder's choice from Vavra. Matt Stemper drove in the home team's final run on an RBI single with two outs.
Augsburg plated a run in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to get on the board, but were unable to draw level as the game finished 10-3 in favor of Minnesota.
In the midst of the offensive showcase, the pitching was solid all afternoon. Jake Stevenson provided two solid innings of relief in the fourth and fifth innings and tallied a pair of strikeouts. Jeff Fasching produced a rarity in the sixth stanza with a four-strikeout frame.
Tim Shannon pitched the seventh and eighth innings and allowed just two hits with one strikeout, while Nick Lackney slammed the door shut in the ninth with two strikeouts.
The Gophers return to the diamond this weekend with a road series at No. 23 Missouri State, March 25-27. The Maroon and Gold get back out on Siebert Field next Wednesday, March 30 for another in-state showdown with St. Mary's.
