University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, March 31
Minneapolis, MN
11:00 AM
University of Minnesota
10-14, 4-1
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Nebraska
13-8, 4-1
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Photo by: Jennifer Stewart
'Wild' Walk-off Lifts Minnesota to Big Ten Series Win
3/31/2019 6:40:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – A wild pitch scored pinch-runner Riley Smith in the bottom of the ninth to give the Gopher Baseball team a 3-2 win over Nebraska to split a doubleheader and take 2-of-3 in the teams' Big Ten Conference series at Siebert Field on Sunday. The Cornhuskers picked up a 10-1 victory in game one of the doubleheader.
Minnesota (11-14, 4-1 Big Ten) walked off as winners in each of their victories over Nebraska (13-9, 4-2 Big Ten) on the weekend. Jordan Kozicky went 3-for-6 and drove in all three RBIs for the Gophers on the afternoon.
Nebraska 10, Minnesota 1
Nebraska dominated game one, scoring three runs in the opening inning and never looking back, tacking on multiple runs in the fourth, seventh, and ninth innings for an eventual 10-1 win.
Patrick Fredrickson (1-3) worked the first 3.2 innings for Minnesota, but could not get out of the fourth, eventually surrendering six runs, including five earned, on five hits and three walks. He collected six strikeouts on the day.
Kozicky's fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning was the only mark on the day for Huskers southpaw Nate Fisher (4-1). The lefty tossed 8.0 innings, scattering four hits while striking out six on the day.
Ryan Duffy gave the Gophers 2.0 innings of shutout work from the bullpen, collecting four strikeouts. Eli Wilson, Max Meyer, and Zack Raabe each added a hit in the game for the Gophers.
Minnesota 3, Nebraska 2
Wilson led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk before Meyer sacrificed him to second with a bunt. Smith pinch-ran for Wilson at second, moving to third on a strikeout passed ball that saw Easton Bertrand reach first base. After an intentional walk to Kozicky, Cole McDevitt stood in for a pinch-hitting appearance for the Maroon & Gold when a wild pitch brought home Smith for the game-winning run.
Nebraska took advantage of three-straight two-out hits to plate a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but the Gophers answered with three singles of their own, with Kozicky punching home a Ben Mezzenga and Wilson to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first.
Joshua Culliver worked the first 5.0 innings for Minnesota, allowing just two unearned runs on four hits while striking out six. He handed the ball to Nick Lackney, who posted 3.2 shutout innings, striking out four. Starter Reece Eddins pitched 7.0 innings for Nebraska, striking out seven while allowing two earned on seven hits.
Brett Schulze (4-0) picked up the last out of the ninth with a strikeout giving the Gophers the chance to rally against Huskers reliever Shay Schanaman (1-1).
QUOTABLE
"Wins don't always have to be pretty. We just have to push through and find a way to get it done." – Riley Smith talking to BTN Student U following the victory
NOTABLE
Minnesota has now won three-straight Big Ten series dating back to 2019 … Easton Bertrand's team season-long hitting streak of nine games came to a close in game one. Wilson and Meyer each take a three-game hitting streak into next week … Wilson has now reached base in 11 consecutive games, the longest current stretch for Minnesota, and has been on base in 24-of-25 games for the Gophers this season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Bethany Lutheran College (NCAA III) in a first-time meeting between the two programs on Tuesday evening at Siebert Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The Maroon & Gold head back on the road next weekend for a three-game series at Michigan. The Gophers and Wolverines have not met on the diamond since the 2016 season.
Minnesota (11-14, 4-1 Big Ten) walked off as winners in each of their victories over Nebraska (13-9, 4-2 Big Ten) on the weekend. Jordan Kozicky went 3-for-6 and drove in all three RBIs for the Gophers on the afternoon.
Nebraska 10, Minnesota 1
Nebraska dominated game one, scoring three runs in the opening inning and never looking back, tacking on multiple runs in the fourth, seventh, and ninth innings for an eventual 10-1 win.
Patrick Fredrickson (1-3) worked the first 3.2 innings for Minnesota, but could not get out of the fourth, eventually surrendering six runs, including five earned, on five hits and three walks. He collected six strikeouts on the day.
Kozicky's fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning was the only mark on the day for Huskers southpaw Nate Fisher (4-1). The lefty tossed 8.0 innings, scattering four hits while striking out six on the day.
Ryan Duffy gave the Gophers 2.0 innings of shutout work from the bullpen, collecting four strikeouts. Eli Wilson, Max Meyer, and Zack Raabe each added a hit in the game for the Gophers.
Minnesota 3, Nebraska 2
Wilson led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a walk before Meyer sacrificed him to second with a bunt. Smith pinch-ran for Wilson at second, moving to third on a strikeout passed ball that saw Easton Bertrand reach first base. After an intentional walk to Kozicky, Cole McDevitt stood in for a pinch-hitting appearance for the Maroon & Gold when a wild pitch brought home Smith for the game-winning run.
Nebraska took advantage of three-straight two-out hits to plate a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but the Gophers answered with three singles of their own, with Kozicky punching home a Ben Mezzenga and Wilson to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the first.
Joshua Culliver worked the first 5.0 innings for Minnesota, allowing just two unearned runs on four hits while striking out six. He handed the ball to Nick Lackney, who posted 3.2 shutout innings, striking out four. Starter Reece Eddins pitched 7.0 innings for Nebraska, striking out seven while allowing two earned on seven hits.
Brett Schulze (4-0) picked up the last out of the ninth with a strikeout giving the Gophers the chance to rally against Huskers reliever Shay Schanaman (1-1).
QUOTABLE
"Wins don't always have to be pretty. We just have to push through and find a way to get it done." – Riley Smith talking to BTN Student U following the victory
NOTABLE
Minnesota has now won three-straight Big Ten series dating back to 2019 … Easton Bertrand's team season-long hitting streak of nine games came to a close in game one. Wilson and Meyer each take a three-game hitting streak into next week … Wilson has now reached base in 11 consecutive games, the longest current stretch for Minnesota, and has been on base in 24-of-25 games for the Gophers this season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Bethany Lutheran College (NCAA III) in a first-time meeting between the two programs on Tuesday evening at Siebert Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The Maroon & Gold head back on the road next weekend for a three-game series at Michigan. The Gophers and Wolverines have not met on the diamond since the 2016 season.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schulze, Brett (4-0)
L: Schanaman, Shay (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Palensky, Aaron 1 ; Roskam, Luke 1
RBI: Roskam, Luke 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Palensky, Aaron 1 ; Hellstrom, Gunner 1
SB: Acker, Joe 1 ; Altavilla, Angelo 1
CS: Hagge, Mojo 1
PO: Altavilla, Angelo 1
Batting:
RBI: Kozicky, Jordan 2
SH: Meyer, Max 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mezzenga, Ben 1 ; Wilson, Eli 1 ; Smith, Riley 1
CS: Kozicky, Jordan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
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LHP
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1B/C
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/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
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IF/OF
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