University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
6-15
Western Illinois
2-17
Gophers Gash Leathernecks, 11-4
3/25/2022 9:40:00 PM | Baseball
Drew Stahl and Ronald Sweeny hit two-run home runs
Junior right-hander Sam Ireland (3-0) struck out five, allowing just three hits and two earned runs in 6.0 innings, setting the tone for a Gophers victory. Offensively, Otto Grimm went 3-for-4 with two RBI while Drew Stahl (2-for-4) and Ronald Sweeny (1-for-4) each hit two-run home runs in the win.
Minnesota got the scoring going in the bottom of the first inning with three runs. Stahl started off the scoring with a two-run home run, the second of his college career, to center field to put his team up 2-0. Grimm then drove in Jack Kelly, who singled and stole second, with an RBI single.
A two-out single by Brett Bateman scored Brady Counsell to plate the Gophers fourth run in the bottom of the second. WIU added its first run in the top of the third after executing a double steal with two outs and guys on first and third.
Minnesota exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the fifth to break the game open completely. Bateman reached on an error and Stahl walked to start the inning. Chase Stanke then delivered the first hit of the frame with an RBI double to right center, scoring Bateman.
Stahl scored on a wild pitch and Stanke advanced to third during Kelly's at bat. After consecutive ground outs by Kelly and Merila, a triple by Grimm brought home Stanke. Ronald Sweeny made sure the 'U' had no one left on base as he delivered a crushing blow in a two-run shot to right, his fourth of the year, to put the home team up 9-1.
Both teams pushed one more across in the sixth inning. An RBI double from Kelly scored Bateman, who had reached on a single earlier in the inning.
Right-hander Richie Holetz would pitch the final three innings for the 'U', striking out two while allowing four hits and two earned runs. Holetz also earned his first save as a Gopher.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Western Illinois tomorrow at 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ireland, Sam (3-0)
L: Bell, J. (1-1)
S: Holetz, Richie (1)
Batting:
2B: Olsen, K. 1
RBI: Mitchell, N. 2 ; Juran, A. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Olsen, K. 1 ; Santarelli,M 1 ; Mitchell, N. 1 ; Sears, D. 1
SB: Olsen, K. 1 ; Santarelli,M 1 ; Mitchell, N. 2 ; Maddox, S. 1
Batting:
2B: Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1
3B: Grimm, Otto 1
HR: Stahl, Drew 1 ; Sweeny, Ronald 1
RBI: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Stahl, Drew 2 ; Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 2 ; Grimm, Otto 2 ; Sweeny, Ronald 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 4 ; Stahl, Drew 2 ; Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Grimm, Otto 1 ; Sweeny, Ronald 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1
SB: Bateman, Brett 2 ; Kelly, Jack 1
