University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, April 19
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
St. Thomas
Players Mentioned
OF
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OF
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INF
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C/OF
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RHP
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LHP
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C
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INF
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Gophers Take on Tommies Tuesday Night
4/18/2022 5:15:00 PM | Baseball
This will be meeting No. 3 in 2022
Tuesday, April 19
St. Thomas at Minnesota
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (3.86 ERA, 1-0, 4.2 IP, 5 SO)
St. Thomas Starter: TBD
Stream: B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-23, 1-8 Big Ten) are set to play their third of four mid-week games of the season against St. Thomas (7-21, 2-7 Summit) in their first season transitioning to Division I. The Gophers, who defeated UST 12-0 on March 1, also took down the Tommies 2-1 last Tuesday. UST is coming off a weekend in which it defeated Tarleton State in two out of three games.
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
-In fall 2021 St. Thomas became the first institution to make a direct move in all sports from NCAA D-III into D-I athletics. The Tommies are in year one of a five-year provisional period. They're led by Chris Olean, who enters his 13th year as the head coach of St. Thomas Baseball in 2021-22 and his 26th season as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Olean established himself among the top coaches in Division III with a 338-149-1 record (.693 win %) and seven of a possible 11 conference championships.
-UST's 2021 season saw it post a 37-10 final record and No. 2 ranking in the final national poll. They went 11-5 in the postseason and made it all the way to the Division III World Series.
-In 2022, UST is led by left-hander Graham Laubscher, who was named Summit League Pitcher of the Week after tossing 8.1 shutout innings, striking out 15 and allowing just two hits in a 6-0 win over NDSU last Friday.
-The Tommies 21 losses include 14 one- or two-run defeats. That includes a 1-9 record in games decided by one run.
-Offensively, Charlie Barholomew leads UST with a .290 average with 14 RBI.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota leads the all-time series, 2-0. The Gophers blasted a season-best five home runs in the 12-0 win on March 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Chase Stanke hit two while Easton Bertrand, Kyle Bork and Ronald Sweeny had one each.
-In the next matchup on April 12, Minnesota won 2-1. Trailing 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, Minnesota's bats woke up late. A two-out, pinch-hit single by Kyle Bork tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Gophers took the lead for good in the eighth inning after a Jack Kelly double into the left field corner scored Brett Bateman. UST had a man reach third base with one out in the ninth, but the Gophers were able to strand him and seal the 2-1 win.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota was swept by Iowa this past weekend in Iowa City. The Gophers fell 9-3, 2-1, and 9-3. They scored first in all three games, but couldn't get enough overall production to pull through.
-The Gophers got a stellar pitching performance from Aidan Maldonado on Sunday after he went 5.1 shutout innings, tying a career-high with nine strikeouts. He allowed just two hits on the ballgame. Minnesota led 3-0 heading into the seventh, but an eight-run bottom of the seventh won the game for the Hawkeyes.
GOPHERS HITTING THE LONG BALL
-Minnesota ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 32 home runs in 33 games this season. Chase Stanke ranks third in the conference with 10 while Jack Kelly has hit six. Easton Bertrand and Ronald Sweeny are up next with four apiece.
MINNESOTA SWIPING BASES AT A HIGH RATE
-The Gophers have been aggressive on the base paths this season, swiping 41 bases in 52 attempts. The 'U' ranks fifth in the conference in stolen bases and have gotten contributions from nine different players. Bateman (13), Wilhite (8) and Sweeny (5) lead the team.
COUNSELL CRUSHING IN CONFERENCE PLAY
-In Minnesota's nine conference games, freshman Brady Counsell started in eight of them, tallying 14 assists (2nd on team), six hits (third), two triples (first) and three RBI (third).
-In his two starts against UMD, he went 3-for-8 with two triples and runs. He scored the game-winning run on a passed ball on Sunday to pull the upset.
-In 2022, he leads all true freshmen in appearances (23), batting average (.207), hits (12) and RBI (6).
MALDONADO MAKES HIS WAY
-Redshirt junior Aidan Maldonado brought his best stuff on Sunday in a win over No. 23 Maryland. He battled through 6.0 innings, striking out five and giving up a season-low one earned run.
-He picked up a no-decision, but it's the second time this year he's gone six-or-more innings against a ranked team. Maldonado went 6.0 innings against No. 12 Notre Dame on March 6, striking out five while allowing five hits and just two earned runs.
-Maldonado shoved again at Iowa, going 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine (ties career-high).
MINNESOTA OPENS UP ITS HOME SLATE AT SIEBERT
-The Gophers are through five of 15 home games at Siebert Field this season.
-Despite going 2-8 at Siebert Field in 2021, Minnesota is 54-35 there in the last six seasons.
-The 'U' went 13-7 in 2019, 12-2 in 2018, 10-9 2017, 16-7 in 2016 at Siebert Field.
-Minnesota is 2-3 at Siebert this season, compared to 1-13 in true road games. The 'U' went 6-6 at U.S. Bank Stadium in March.
BATEMAN SETS THE TONE
-Sophomore centerfielder Brett Bateman ranks tied for first on the team in hits (41) and first in at bats (137). He's also swiped a team-best 13 bases, which ranks fifth in the league.
-He's hit safetly in a team-best seven straight games, including three multi-hit games. He led off all three games at Iowa with singles in the top of the first.
-Bateman is the only Gopher to start in all 33 games.
KELLY CRUSHING OPPOSING PITCHING
-Senior utility player Jack Kelly has been on a tear in his final collegiate season.
-He leads the team in hits (38) and RBI (32) while also totaling 11 multi-hit games.
-B1G Ranks: B. Avg.: .352 (11th), SLG%: .676 (3rd), triples: 3 (2nd), OB+SLG%: 1.110 (5th), RBI: 32 (11th).
$2 Hot Dogs
-Minnesota will be selling $2 hot dogs at Siebert Field Tuesday evening for its game against UST.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Penn St. for three games this weekend at Siebert Field.
St. Thomas at Minnesota
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (3.86 ERA, 1-0, 4.2 IP, 5 SO)
St. Thomas Starter: TBD
Stream: B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-23, 1-8 Big Ten) are set to play their third of four mid-week games of the season against St. Thomas (7-21, 2-7 Summit) in their first season transitioning to Division I. The Gophers, who defeated UST 12-0 on March 1, also took down the Tommies 2-1 last Tuesday. UST is coming off a weekend in which it defeated Tarleton State in two out of three games.
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
-In fall 2021 St. Thomas became the first institution to make a direct move in all sports from NCAA D-III into D-I athletics. The Tommies are in year one of a five-year provisional period. They're led by Chris Olean, who enters his 13th year as the head coach of St. Thomas Baseball in 2021-22 and his 26th season as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Olean established himself among the top coaches in Division III with a 338-149-1 record (.693 win %) and seven of a possible 11 conference championships.
-UST's 2021 season saw it post a 37-10 final record and No. 2 ranking in the final national poll. They went 11-5 in the postseason and made it all the way to the Division III World Series.
-In 2022, UST is led by left-hander Graham Laubscher, who was named Summit League Pitcher of the Week after tossing 8.1 shutout innings, striking out 15 and allowing just two hits in a 6-0 win over NDSU last Friday.
-The Tommies 21 losses include 14 one- or two-run defeats. That includes a 1-9 record in games decided by one run.
-Offensively, Charlie Barholomew leads UST with a .290 average with 14 RBI.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota leads the all-time series, 2-0. The Gophers blasted a season-best five home runs in the 12-0 win on March 1 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Chase Stanke hit two while Easton Bertrand, Kyle Bork and Ronald Sweeny had one each.
-In the next matchup on April 12, Minnesota won 2-1. Trailing 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, Minnesota's bats woke up late. A two-out, pinch-hit single by Kyle Bork tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Gophers took the lead for good in the eighth inning after a Jack Kelly double into the left field corner scored Brett Bateman. UST had a man reach third base with one out in the ninth, but the Gophers were able to strand him and seal the 2-1 win.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota was swept by Iowa this past weekend in Iowa City. The Gophers fell 9-3, 2-1, and 9-3. They scored first in all three games, but couldn't get enough overall production to pull through.
-The Gophers got a stellar pitching performance from Aidan Maldonado on Sunday after he went 5.1 shutout innings, tying a career-high with nine strikeouts. He allowed just two hits on the ballgame. Minnesota led 3-0 heading into the seventh, but an eight-run bottom of the seventh won the game for the Hawkeyes.
GOPHERS HITTING THE LONG BALL
-Minnesota ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 32 home runs in 33 games this season. Chase Stanke ranks third in the conference with 10 while Jack Kelly has hit six. Easton Bertrand and Ronald Sweeny are up next with four apiece.
MINNESOTA SWIPING BASES AT A HIGH RATE
-The Gophers have been aggressive on the base paths this season, swiping 41 bases in 52 attempts. The 'U' ranks fifth in the conference in stolen bases and have gotten contributions from nine different players. Bateman (13), Wilhite (8) and Sweeny (5) lead the team.
COUNSELL CRUSHING IN CONFERENCE PLAY
-In Minnesota's nine conference games, freshman Brady Counsell started in eight of them, tallying 14 assists (2nd on team), six hits (third), two triples (first) and three RBI (third).
-In his two starts against UMD, he went 3-for-8 with two triples and runs. He scored the game-winning run on a passed ball on Sunday to pull the upset.
-In 2022, he leads all true freshmen in appearances (23), batting average (.207), hits (12) and RBI (6).
MALDONADO MAKES HIS WAY
-Redshirt junior Aidan Maldonado brought his best stuff on Sunday in a win over No. 23 Maryland. He battled through 6.0 innings, striking out five and giving up a season-low one earned run.
-He picked up a no-decision, but it's the second time this year he's gone six-or-more innings against a ranked team. Maldonado went 6.0 innings against No. 12 Notre Dame on March 6, striking out five while allowing five hits and just two earned runs.
-Maldonado shoved again at Iowa, going 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine (ties career-high).
MINNESOTA OPENS UP ITS HOME SLATE AT SIEBERT
-The Gophers are through five of 15 home games at Siebert Field this season.
-Despite going 2-8 at Siebert Field in 2021, Minnesota is 54-35 there in the last six seasons.
-The 'U' went 13-7 in 2019, 12-2 in 2018, 10-9 2017, 16-7 in 2016 at Siebert Field.
-Minnesota is 2-3 at Siebert this season, compared to 1-13 in true road games. The 'U' went 6-6 at U.S. Bank Stadium in March.
BATEMAN SETS THE TONE
-Sophomore centerfielder Brett Bateman ranks tied for first on the team in hits (41) and first in at bats (137). He's also swiped a team-best 13 bases, which ranks fifth in the league.
-He's hit safetly in a team-best seven straight games, including three multi-hit games. He led off all three games at Iowa with singles in the top of the first.
-Bateman is the only Gopher to start in all 33 games.
KELLY CRUSHING OPPOSING PITCHING
-Senior utility player Jack Kelly has been on a tear in his final collegiate season.
-He leads the team in hits (38) and RBI (32) while also totaling 11 multi-hit games.
-B1G Ranks: B. Avg.: .352 (11th), SLG%: .676 (3rd), triples: 3 (2nd), OB+SLG%: 1.110 (5th), RBI: 32 (11th).
$2 Hot Dogs
-Minnesota will be selling $2 hot dogs at Siebert Field Tuesday evening for its game against UST.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Penn St. for three games this weekend at Siebert Field.
First 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