University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, June 1
Minneapolis
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
10
vs
1
Canisius
Gophers Rout Canisius Before Record Crowd
6/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 1, 2018
"Anytime we can get runs on the board [early] we feed off that," said Vavra after the game. "As an offense, you try to score first and it had some momentum to it. We were just happy to get one across in that inning, and luckily it turned into more than that."
Canisius (35-21) got a run back with a lead-off single by John Conti and a double by Christ Conley in the top of the third, but the Maroon & Gold answered back when Cole McDevitt launched his ninth home run of the season with one out in the bottom of the frame. The Gophers were not done there as Eli Wilson ripped an RBI double of his own in the bottom of the fourth, securing at least a hit for all nine Minnesota batters.
Reggie Meyer (7-3) provided another steady effort, completing 8.0 innings with just five hits allowed while striking out six on the day. The Gophers chased Golden Griffins ace J.P. Stevenson (10-2) after 3.1 innings, scoring seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with just one strikeout.
"I didn't quite have my best stuff, but my defense behind me was making plays like they always do," said Meyer. "It also helps to relax when we are able to put up a bunch of runs like that. It helps me settle down and get into a rhythm a little easier."
Minnesota continued to pile on in the fifth, loading the bases for the second time in the game, stringing together three singles and a walk, with Kozicky providing one RBI and Vavra a pair.
QUOTABLE
"I want to thank all the fans for showing up tonight. It was a great atmosphere out here at Siebert Field. It reminded me of 1977 when we hosted the regional here and had people hanging from trees around the stadium. They brought a lot of energy, and I thought our players did a great job at managing that energy and their emotions. I think it was a great start for us, and it was a great environment." - head coach John Anderson on the atmosphere
NOTABLE
Toby Hanson had two doubles in a game for the second time this season (March 13 vs. George Washington).
UCLA 6, Gonzaga 5
In the earlier game of the day, UCLA (37-19) stunned Gonzaga (32-23) with four runs in the ninth inning to walk off a 6-5 victor and advance in the winner's bracket. Reliever Kyle Mora did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings to earn the victory for the Bruins while Bulldogs closer Casey Legumina took the loss. Gonzaga faces an elimination game Saturday.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will continue play at the NCAA Minneapolis regional against UCLA on Saturday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Siebert Field.
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 14 national seed Gopher Baseball team exploded for five runs in the second and rolled the champions of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Canisius, in the first round of the NCAA Minneapolis Regional in front of a record crowd of 2,291 at Siebert Field.
No. 14 Minnesota (42-13) took an early 5-0 lead after loading the bases in the second. Micah Coffey and Toby Hanson each doubled in the inning, and Terrin Vavra tripled in the inning. An error and a wild pitch helped the Gophers extend the inning, but they finished with five runs on five hits in the inning."Anytime we can get runs on the board [early] we feed off that," said Vavra after the game. "As an offense, you try to score first and it had some momentum to it. We were just happy to get one across in that inning, and luckily it turned into more than that."
Canisius (35-21) got a run back with a lead-off single by John Conti and a double by Christ Conley in the top of the third, but the Maroon & Gold answered back when Cole McDevitt launched his ninth home run of the season with one out in the bottom of the frame. The Gophers were not done there as Eli Wilson ripped an RBI double of his own in the bottom of the fourth, securing at least a hit for all nine Minnesota batters.
Reggie Meyer (7-3) provided another steady effort, completing 8.0 innings with just five hits allowed while striking out six on the day. The Gophers chased Golden Griffins ace J.P. Stevenson (10-2) after 3.1 innings, scoring seven runs (three earned) on nine hits with just one strikeout.
"I didn't quite have my best stuff, but my defense behind me was making plays like they always do," said Meyer. "It also helps to relax when we are able to put up a bunch of runs like that. It helps me settle down and get into a rhythm a little easier."
Minnesota continued to pile on in the fifth, loading the bases for the second time in the game, stringing together three singles and a walk, with Kozicky providing one RBI and Vavra a pair.
QUOTABLE
"I want to thank all the fans for showing up tonight. It was a great atmosphere out here at Siebert Field. It reminded me of 1977 when we hosted the regional here and had people hanging from trees around the stadium. They brought a lot of energy, and I thought our players did a great job at managing that energy and their emotions. I think it was a great start for us, and it was a great environment." - head coach John Anderson on the atmosphere
NOTABLE
Toby Hanson had two doubles in a game for the second time this season (March 13 vs. George Washington).
UCLA 6, Gonzaga 5
In the earlier game of the day, UCLA (37-19) stunned Gonzaga (32-23) with four runs in the ninth inning to walk off a 6-5 victor and advance in the winner's bracket. Reliever Kyle Mora did not allow a hit in 1.1 innings to earn the victory for the Bruins while Bulldogs closer Casey Legumina took the loss. Gonzaga faces an elimination game Saturday.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will continue play at the NCAA Minneapolis regional against UCLA on Saturday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Siebert Field.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Baseball
1B/OF
/ Baseball
1B/C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
C
/ BaseballFirst Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15