University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, March 26
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
7-15
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Western Illinois
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Western Illinois
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Minnesota Gophers
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Photo by: Matt Krohn
Gophers Accelerate Middle in Win Over WIU
3/26/2022 5:00:00 PM | Baseball
Minnesota scored seven runs combined in the fourth and fifth innings
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gophers baseball team took down the Western Illinois Leathernecks, 7-2, in game two of the three game set on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. They'll look to earn the sweep tomorrow afternoon at noon.
Senior right-hander J.P. Massey (2-2) tossed 6.2 innings, striking out six while allowing five hits and just two runs (zero earned). Otto Grimm paced the offensive attack once again, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two run-scoring singles. Brady Counsell ripped a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth that gave the Gophers (7-15, 0-0 Big Ten) the lead for good.
WIU (2-18, 0-3 Summit) started the scoring in the top of the second inning. After a one out single by Sam Maddox, a wild throw on a pickoff attempt by Massey allowed him to advance to second. An RBI single to center by Toby Allred put the visitors up 1-0 after the unearned run.
Massey's second error of the game on a slow roller up the first base line in the third inning would lead to another Leathernecks run. After a stolen base by Derek Bottaletto, an RBI double down the first base line gave WIU a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota's offense finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Brett Bateman started off the frame with a leadoff single before Drew Stahl ripped a ball into the gap that advanced Bateman to third. Bateman would score on a sacrifice fly by Chase Stanke, a play that also advanced Stahl to second. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt by WIU's pitcher put Stahl on third base with one out. After a walk from Jack Kelly, Otto Grimm singled to score Stahl and tie the game at 2-2. Merila then grounded out to third before Sweeny walked to load the bases.
With the bases packed and two down, freshman Brady Counsell ripped a double into the right field corner, plating two to give the Gophers their first lead of the day at 4-2.
After a strong defensive inning in the top of the fifth, the 'U' kept the bats hot with three more runs in the bottom of the frame. A one out walk by Stahl was followed up with a towering double by Stanke to deep left that one-hopped the fence. A double off the fence in right center by Kelly scored Stahl and advanced Stanke to third. Grimm then drove Kelly and Stanke in with his second run-scoring hit of the afternoon, this time a two-run single to left. Minnesota took a commanding 7-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Massey shut down the Leathernecks in the sixth and retired the first two in the seventh before giving way to left-hander Tom Skoro, who picked off a runner at first to end the inning. Skoro silenced the WIU bats in the top of the eighth, working around a leadoff walk to hold the visitors scoreless.
Senior right-hander Josh Culliver came in to pitch in the ninth. After allowing a leadoff double, he shut down the Leathernecks with two strikeouts to help his team cap the 7-2 win.
Today's victory marks the first series win for Minnesota since May 16-18, 2019, when it took two of three from Northwestern.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts WIU tomorrow in the series finale at noon. After that, the Gophers will travel to Rutgers for a three-game series to open conference play next weekend.
Senior right-hander J.P. Massey (2-2) tossed 6.2 innings, striking out six while allowing five hits and just two runs (zero earned). Otto Grimm paced the offensive attack once again, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two run-scoring singles. Brady Counsell ripped a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth that gave the Gophers (7-15, 0-0 Big Ten) the lead for good.
WIU (2-18, 0-3 Summit) started the scoring in the top of the second inning. After a one out single by Sam Maddox, a wild throw on a pickoff attempt by Massey allowed him to advance to second. An RBI single to center by Toby Allred put the visitors up 1-0 after the unearned run.
Massey's second error of the game on a slow roller up the first base line in the third inning would lead to another Leathernecks run. After a stolen base by Derek Bottaletto, an RBI double down the first base line gave WIU a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota's offense finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Brett Bateman started off the frame with a leadoff single before Drew Stahl ripped a ball into the gap that advanced Bateman to third. Bateman would score on a sacrifice fly by Chase Stanke, a play that also advanced Stahl to second. A throwing error on a pickoff attempt by WIU's pitcher put Stahl on third base with one out. After a walk from Jack Kelly, Otto Grimm singled to score Stahl and tie the game at 2-2. Merila then grounded out to third before Sweeny walked to load the bases.
With the bases packed and two down, freshman Brady Counsell ripped a double into the right field corner, plating two to give the Gophers their first lead of the day at 4-2.
After a strong defensive inning in the top of the fifth, the 'U' kept the bats hot with three more runs in the bottom of the frame. A one out walk by Stahl was followed up with a towering double by Stanke to deep left that one-hopped the fence. A double off the fence in right center by Kelly scored Stahl and advanced Stanke to third. Grimm then drove Kelly and Stanke in with his second run-scoring hit of the afternoon, this time a two-run single to left. Minnesota took a commanding 7-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Massey shut down the Leathernecks in the sixth and retired the first two in the seventh before giving way to left-hander Tom Skoro, who picked off a runner at first to end the inning. Skoro silenced the WIU bats in the top of the eighth, working around a leadoff walk to hold the visitors scoreless.
Senior right-hander Josh Culliver came in to pitch in the ninth. After allowing a leadoff double, he shut down the Leathernecks with two strikeouts to help his team cap the 7-2 win.
Today's victory marks the first series win for Minnesota since May 16-18, 2019, when it took two of three from Northwestern.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts WIU tomorrow in the series finale at noon. After that, the Gophers will travel to Rutgers for a three-game series to open conference play next weekend.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Massey, J.P. (2-2)
L: Warkentien,J (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Olsen, K. 1 ; Sears, D. 1
RBI: Olsen, K. 1 ; Allred, T. 1
SH: Botaletto, D 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maddox, S. 1 ; Botaletto, D 1
SB: Santarelli,M 2 ; Botaletto, D 1
HBP: Botaletto, D 1
PO: Juran, A. 1
Batting:
2B: Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1
RBI: Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Grimm, Otto 3 ; Counsell, Brady 2
SF: Stanke, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Stahl, Drew 2 ; Stanke, Chase 1 ; Kelly, Jack 2 ; Grimm, Otto 1
SB: Grimm, Otto 1 ; Wilhite, Andrew 1
CS: Merila, Boston 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballC/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
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