University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Rutgers
Gophers Sweep Doubleheader vs Rutgers
5/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Tickets: Gophers Go For Big Ten Title Against Purdue, Thursday-Saturday
Minneapolis, Minn. - The University of Minnesota took both games of a doubleheader versus Rutgers Tuesday, winning the first game 6-2 then the second game 6-0.
The two victories put the Gophers at 32-17 overall this season and 14-6 in the Big Ten.
Game 1 - Minnesota: 6 Rutgers: 2
Rutgers scored a run in the top of the first but Minnesota answered back in the bottom half of the inning when Jordan Kozicky hit a leadoff home run to left field. This extended Kozicky's on-base streak to 31 consecutive games.
The Gophers struck again in the bottom of the second inning when Jordan Smith hit his sixth home run of the season making the score 2-1.
Another two runs were added in the bottom of the third inning. Terrin Vavra reached base with a single then advanced on a Micah Coffey double to right center. A Toby Hanson ground out scored Vavra. After Smith was hit by a pitch, Matt Stemper singled to right field with the bases full, scoring Coffey.
The final runs were scored in the bottom of the seventh inning when Kozicky hit a two-run homerun, his second of the day and third of the season.
Tyler Hanson started on the mound for the Maroon and Gold where he picked up his fourth win of the season after throwing 5.1 innings. He allowed two earned runs on six hits while striking out four batters.
Reggie Meyer took over for Hanson and pitched 3.2 innings. The righty didn't allow a hit and struck out one batter en route to his second save of the season.
Game Notes
- Kozicky hit two home runs and drove in three runs.
- Vavra was 3-4.
Game 2 - Minnesota: 6 Rutgers: 0
The Minnesota offense put up four runs in the bottom of the third inning and never looked back. Kozicky led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Vavra walked allowing Kozicky to score on a Coffey double. Hanson then singled to right center field, plating both Vavra and Coffey. Hanson then scored on a Smith single up the middle to make it 4-0.
Coffey added another run in the fifth inning with his third home run of the season. Another run would score in the bottom of the seventh inning when Stemper singled though the left side scoring Coffey who reached base with a single.
Toby Anderson started on the bump for the second game and tossed 6.1 scoreless innings. He allowed five hits while striking out six batters, a new career high. The senior now has six wins under his belt this season.
Fred Manke came in to pitch for 0.2 innings where he did not allow a hit. Next it was Alex Farley who also tossed 0.2 inning of no-hit ball. He struck out one batter. Tim Shannon took over for the final 1.1 innings. The submarine senior did not allow a hit.
Game Notes
- Kozicky extended his on-base streak to 32 consecutive games.
- Coffey was 3-3 and scored three runs while driving in two more.
- Stemper was 2-4 with one RBI.
- Anderson's six strikeouts are single game career high.
- Shannon has now made 27 pitching appearances this season, one off from the program record.
Up Next
The Gophers will host Purdue for the final series beginning on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Siebert Field.
