University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, March 27
Minneapolis, MN
6 p.m.
University of Minnesota
9-13
9
vs
3
Augsburg
4-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Augsburg
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
3
1
Minnesota
1
1
4
3
0
0
0
0
X
9
14
0
Photo by: Jaylynn Nash
Hot Start Leads Minnesota to Dominant Win over Augsburg
3/27/2019 9:45:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – An abrupt schedule change did little to affect the momentum of the Gopher Baseball team as it dominated Augsburg 9-3 in a home-opening victory at Siebert Field on Wednesday evening.
Sam Thoresen (1-3) seemed unfazed by a first-inning double and a patient Auggie line-up, as he worked 4.0 shutout innings for Minnesota (9-13), allowing just the one hit and one walk while striking out five on the day to pick up his first victory of the season. Augsburg (4-9) used six pitchers on the day, but only Jacob Kraft (1-1) and Quentin Lake allowed runs as the pair surrendered nine earned working the first 3.1 innings of the day.
Ben Mezzenga drew three walks on the day, coming around to score a first inning run on a single by Easton Bertrand. Jordan Kozicky continued his hot streak, hitting a solo shot leading off the second inning and then doubling home a pair in the third. Jack Wassel scored Kozicky, and Chase Stanke drove in Wassel with a single. Andrew Wilhite's two-run single and a bases-loaded walk to Stanke each in the fourth inning closed out the scoring for Minnesota.
"I was impressed with the work they did in batting practice and pregame. I saw guys that were focused and wanted to come out here and work on some things," said head coach John Anderson. "Their guys don't throw as hard, but ... it's no different than facing guys who throw a lot of change-ups and breaking balls. We did a really nice job in the batter's box tonight of slowing down, putting the ball in play, and using the whole field."
Bubba Horton, J.P. Massey, Ryan Duffy, and Danny Kapala kept the shutout in tact through the eighth inning, collecting seven strikeouts between the quartet, with Duffy leading the way with four in just 1.1 innings of work. Augsburg added three runs in the ninth before Nolan Burchill entered to claim the final out for the Maroon & Gold.
QUOTABLE
"Regardless of who you play midweek, it's an opportunity to get some people out there who haven't had a lot of opportunities. We got a chance to get out on the field before Nebraska comes in, and get adjusted to playing at home again which we haven't done since last year. We got a lot out of the game for both our position players and our pitchers." – Anderson on the team's return to Siebert Field against a crosstown opponent
NOTABLE
Zack Elliott singled to center field in the eighth inning for his first collegiate hit … Mezzenga stole a pair of bases, his second game with a pair of steals this season … Kozicky has hit .531 (17-of-32) in the Gophers' last eight games, slugging three home runs and four doubles while driving in 21 runs and scoring 10 times.
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns to Big Ten play this weekend, hosting Nebraska in a three-game series. First pitch between the Gophers and Cornhuskers is set for 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
Sam Thoresen (1-3) seemed unfazed by a first-inning double and a patient Auggie line-up, as he worked 4.0 shutout innings for Minnesota (9-13), allowing just the one hit and one walk while striking out five on the day to pick up his first victory of the season. Augsburg (4-9) used six pitchers on the day, but only Jacob Kraft (1-1) and Quentin Lake allowed runs as the pair surrendered nine earned working the first 3.1 innings of the day.
Ben Mezzenga drew three walks on the day, coming around to score a first inning run on a single by Easton Bertrand. Jordan Kozicky continued his hot streak, hitting a solo shot leading off the second inning and then doubling home a pair in the third. Jack Wassel scored Kozicky, and Chase Stanke drove in Wassel with a single. Andrew Wilhite's two-run single and a bases-loaded walk to Stanke each in the fourth inning closed out the scoring for Minnesota.
"I was impressed with the work they did in batting practice and pregame. I saw guys that were focused and wanted to come out here and work on some things," said head coach John Anderson. "Their guys don't throw as hard, but ... it's no different than facing guys who throw a lot of change-ups and breaking balls. We did a really nice job in the batter's box tonight of slowing down, putting the ball in play, and using the whole field."
Bubba Horton, J.P. Massey, Ryan Duffy, and Danny Kapala kept the shutout in tact through the eighth inning, collecting seven strikeouts between the quartet, with Duffy leading the way with four in just 1.1 innings of work. Augsburg added three runs in the ninth before Nolan Burchill entered to claim the final out for the Maroon & Gold.
QUOTABLE
"Regardless of who you play midweek, it's an opportunity to get some people out there who haven't had a lot of opportunities. We got a chance to get out on the field before Nebraska comes in, and get adjusted to playing at home again which we haven't done since last year. We got a lot out of the game for both our position players and our pitchers." – Anderson on the team's return to Siebert Field against a crosstown opponent
NOTABLE
Zack Elliott singled to center field in the eighth inning for his first collegiate hit … Mezzenga stole a pair of bases, his second game with a pair of steals this season … Kozicky has hit .531 (17-of-32) in the Gophers' last eight games, slugging three home runs and four doubles while driving in 21 runs and scoring 10 times.
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns to Big Ten play this weekend, hosting Nebraska in a three-game series. First pitch between the Gophers and Cornhuskers is set for 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon.
Follow Minnesota Baseball
Support Minnesota Baseball
Support the University of Minnesota Baseball program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Thoresen, Sam (1-3)
L: Jacob Kraft (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Mike Brookshaw 1 ; Ryan Masui 1
RBI: Ryan Masui 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mike Brookshaw 1 ; Kyle Hoppe 1 ; Dan Phyle 1
HBP: Mike Brookshaw 1
Batting:
2B: McDevitt, Cole 1 ; Kozicky, Jordan 1 ; Wassel, Jack 1
HR: Kozicky, Jordan 1
RBI: Bertrand, Easton 1 ; Wilhite, Andrew 2 ; Kozicky, Jordan 3 ; Wassel, Jack 1 ; Stanke, Chase 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mezzenga, Ben 2 ; Wilson, Eli 1 ; Hmielewski, Drew 1 ; Wilhite, Andrew 1 ; McDevitt, Cole 1 ; Kozicky, Jordan 2 ; Wassel, Jack 1
SB: Mezzenga, Ben 2 ; Wilson, Eli 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
ph/rf
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballIF/OF
/ BaseballWeber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15
Gopher Baseball Senior Salute
Monday, May 12