University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Sacramento State
Gophers Win Tenth Game of the Season
3/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sacramento, Cal. - The University of Minnesota evened the series versus Sacramento State at 1-1 Friday night as they defeated the Hornets 9-2.
Minnesota recorded 14 hits in the victory today, their tenth victory of the season.
The Gophers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the third inning. Luke Pettersen led off the inning with a walk which was followed by a two-run home run by Alex Boxwell. The next batter, Terrin Vavra, singled and then advanced to second base on a Toby Hanson ground out. Matt Stemper advanced Vavra to third base with a single to center field then Jordan Smith drove in the run with a single up the middle.
The Maroon and Gold tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning, beginning with a Hanson double to left field. Stemp recorded another single, this one through the right side, advancing Hanson to third base. Smith walked to fill the bases for Kozicky who laced a single down the left field line, scoring Hanson and Stemper.
Minnesota extended their lead to 7-1 in the sixth inning with two runs. Boxwell singled to begin the inning then he stole second base. Boxwell advanced to third base on a Vavra fly out to right field then scored on a Hanson single. Hanson worked his way around the bases by a Stemper ground out, a wild pitch then scored on another wild pitch that resulted in a Smith walk.
The Gophers capped off the scoring with two more runs in the eighth inning. Vavra doubled to right field then scored on a Hanson triple down the right field line. Hanson scored the final Minnesota run on a Smith single through the left side.
Freshman Brett Schulze started on the mound for the Gophers and picked up his second win of the season. The right hander threw 6.0 innings where he allowed five hits, no earned runs and struck out four batters. He only walked one of the 27 batters he faced.
Reggie Meyer came in from the bullpen in relief of Schulze. He tossed 3.0 innings of three-hit ball and allowed one run while striking out three batters.
The Gophers will play Sacramento State tomorrow in the rubber game of the series at 4 p.m. central at John Smith Field. You can follow the action this year by following the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Game Notes
- This was Kozicky's first collegiate start and first two RBIs of his career.
- Boxwell was 3-6 with two stolen bases along with his first home run of the season.
- Hanson was 3-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs and one walk.
- Five Gophers had multiple hits (Boxwell, Vavra, Hanson, Stemper and Smith).
