University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, March 11
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
8-10
5
vs
4
Creighton
5-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Creighton Bluejays
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
4
7
0
Minnesota Gophers
0
0
3
0
0
2
0
0
X
5
8
0
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Complete Two-Game Sweep of Creighton
3/11/2020 11:23:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – Nolan Burchill pitched five quality innings and Jack Kelly drove in two runs on Wednesday night as the Gopher Baseball team used a 5-4 victory to complete a two-game sweep of Creighton.
After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, Minnesota answered back with a three-run third. Otto Grimm and Zack Raabe each produced two-out singles to spark the rally, followed by a Jack Wassel RBI single to left-center that subsequently plated Grimm. Thereafter, Jack Kelly stepped up and drove a double into the right-center field gap to add on another two runs and give the Gophers a 3-1 lead.
Creighton pushed across a second run in the fifth on an RBI single, but that would represent the extent of the scoring against Burchill. The junior right-hander worked five full innings against the Bluejays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four.
With their lead cut down to one run, the Gopher offense responded in the bottom of the sixth. Max Meyer delivered a pinch-hit RBI on a fielder's choice to first base, while Drew Stahl smacked a single through the right side for a second run to increase Minnesota's advantage to 5-2.
The scoring would be held in check for the next two innings, as Bennett Theisen (two innings) and Danny Kapala (one inning) combined for three scoreless frames of relief from innings six through eight.
Things escalated in the top of the ninth as Minnesota tried to close the door on Creighton in game two. After the Bluejays drew a trio of walks to load the bases, Patrick Fredrickson entered in relief and was tasked with working the Gophers out of a crucial jam.
After allowing a base hit to center to bring in one run, Fredrickson induced a sacrifice fly to right field for the first out of the inning. Minnesota then chose to intentionally walk the next Bluejay to load the bases for a force out at every bag.
Holding a slim 5-4 lead, Fredrickson got the next Creighton batter to hit a line drive to the left of Stahl at shortstop. Reacting quickly, Stahl lunged to snag the liner and hustled over to the second base bag to record a game-saving unassisted double play that effectively closed the book on the series.
Thanks to the late-game heroics, Burchill earned his first win of 2020 and improved to 1-1 on the campaign. Meanwhile, Fredrickson nailed down the first-ever save of his college career, tossing one inning with zero runs allowed on one hit and one walk.
Creighton starter Dylan Tebrake received the loss after throwing 2 2/3 innings with three runs allowed on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Quotable
"There's a pattern here in the last couple of days where we're executing more pitches and throwing more strikes. I think our at bats have also gotten better, especially with guys in scoring position," said head coach John Anderson. "To be able to win two midweek games when we were really short on the mound, our two starters the last two days, Burchill and [Trent Schoeberl], deserve a lot of credit for the outcome."
Notable
Theisen worked the first scoreless outing of his college career, pitching two shutout innings on two hits, three walks and one strikeout.
Mountain Vista High School teammates Stahl and Sam Ireland were the lone Gophers with multiple hits on Wednesday night, as both registered two base knocks in the game.
With his big two-run double in the third inning, Kelly notched his first multi-RBI game in Maroon & Gold.
Up Next
Minnesota travels to Colorado Springs, Colo. this weekend (March 13-15) for a three-game series against Air Force.
After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, Minnesota answered back with a three-run third. Otto Grimm and Zack Raabe each produced two-out singles to spark the rally, followed by a Jack Wassel RBI single to left-center that subsequently plated Grimm. Thereafter, Jack Kelly stepped up and drove a double into the right-center field gap to add on another two runs and give the Gophers a 3-1 lead.
Creighton pushed across a second run in the fifth on an RBI single, but that would represent the extent of the scoring against Burchill. The junior right-hander worked five full innings against the Bluejays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four.
With their lead cut down to one run, the Gopher offense responded in the bottom of the sixth. Max Meyer delivered a pinch-hit RBI on a fielder's choice to first base, while Drew Stahl smacked a single through the right side for a second run to increase Minnesota's advantage to 5-2.
The scoring would be held in check for the next two innings, as Bennett Theisen (two innings) and Danny Kapala (one inning) combined for three scoreless frames of relief from innings six through eight.
Things escalated in the top of the ninth as Minnesota tried to close the door on Creighton in game two. After the Bluejays drew a trio of walks to load the bases, Patrick Fredrickson entered in relief and was tasked with working the Gophers out of a crucial jam.
After allowing a base hit to center to bring in one run, Fredrickson induced a sacrifice fly to right field for the first out of the inning. Minnesota then chose to intentionally walk the next Bluejay to load the bases for a force out at every bag.
Holding a slim 5-4 lead, Fredrickson got the next Creighton batter to hit a line drive to the left of Stahl at shortstop. Reacting quickly, Stahl lunged to snag the liner and hustled over to the second base bag to record a game-saving unassisted double play that effectively closed the book on the series.
Thanks to the late-game heroics, Burchill earned his first win of 2020 and improved to 1-1 on the campaign. Meanwhile, Fredrickson nailed down the first-ever save of his college career, tossing one inning with zero runs allowed on one hit and one walk.
Creighton starter Dylan Tebrake received the loss after throwing 2 2/3 innings with three runs allowed on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Quotable
"There's a pattern here in the last couple of days where we're executing more pitches and throwing more strikes. I think our at bats have also gotten better, especially with guys in scoring position," said head coach John Anderson. "To be able to win two midweek games when we were really short on the mound, our two starters the last two days, Burchill and [Trent Schoeberl], deserve a lot of credit for the outcome."
Notable
Theisen worked the first scoreless outing of his college career, pitching two shutout innings on two hits, three walks and one strikeout.
Mountain Vista High School teammates Stahl and Sam Ireland were the lone Gophers with multiple hits on Wednesday night, as both registered two base knocks in the game.
With his big two-run double in the third inning, Kelly notched his first multi-RBI game in Maroon & Gold.
Up Next
Minnesota travels to Colorado Springs, Colo. this weekend (March 13-15) for a three-game series against Air Force.
Follow Minnesota Baseball
Baseball Tickets
Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets
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: Burchill, Nolan (1-1)
L: Dylan Tebrake (3-2)
S: Fredrickson, Patrick (1)
Batting:
2B: Garrett Gilbert 1
3B: Cole Albers 1
HR: Alan Roden 1
RBI: Will Hanafan 1 ; Josh Dudden 1 ; Ryan Mantle 1 ; Alan Roden 1
SF: Ryan Mantle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alan Roden 1 ; Garrett Gilbert 2 ; Cole Albers 1
CS: Andrew Meggs 1
Batting:
2B: Kelly, Jack 1
RBI: Wassel, Jack 1 ; Kelly, Jack 2 ; Meyer, Max 1 ; Stahl, Drew 1
SH: Stanke, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Grimm, Otto 1 ; Raabe, Zack 1 ; Wassel, Jack 1 ; Ireland, Sam 1 ; Wilhite, Andrew 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
rf/cf
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballRHP/1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C/OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballIF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ 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