University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-12
West Virginia
8-4
Minnesota Starts Hot, Falters Late in 15-7 loss to West Virginia
3/10/2023 2:18:00 PM | Baseball
Brady Counsell went 4-for-5 to lead the team
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- Sophomore Brady Counsell tied a season-high with four hits, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers fell to the West Virginia Mountaineers 15-7 on Friday afternoon in Morgantown.
Freshman Caden Capomaccio (0-3) took the loss on the mound for Minnesota (2-12) after being roughed up for eight runs (six earned) in the fifth and sixth innings.
Offensively, Counsell had a double and two RBI to lead the Golden Gophers. Freshman Sam Hunt compiled a standout performance at the dish, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Sophomore Jake Larson also contributed for Minnesota, putting together three hits in five trips to the plate while adding a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the top of the first inning. Counsell came across to score for Minnesota on a sacrifice fly by Sam Hunt.
The Mountaineers failed to push any runs across before the Golden Gophers offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Minnesota scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from Counsell, which brought the Golden Gophers lead to 4-0.
West Virginia narrowed Minnesota's lead to 4-2 before the Golden Gophers stretched the advantage to 5-2 in the fourth inning. The Golden Gophers scored once on an RBI single off the bat of sophomore Ike Mezzenga.
Minnesota lost the lead they built in the fourth as the Mountaineers scored three runs with two outs, capitalizing on a pair of Gophers errors. WVU broke the game open in the fifth and sixth innings when it plated nine additional runs to take a 14-5 lead.
Minnesota would add two more runs later in the game on an RBI groundout from Jake Perry and an RBI single off the bat of Hunt. West Virginia scored once more to seal a 15-7 victory.
GAME NOTES
» Counsell compiled a four-hit day for the Golden Gophers, his second four-hit game of 2023.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed three runs across.
» Four Minnesota hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Minnesota went 4-for-12 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 49 West Virginia hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and six fly balls while striking out five.
» The Golden Gophers drew six walks from West Virginia pitching.
» Counsell led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
» West Virginia was led offensively by sophomore J.J. Wetherholt, who went 2-for-5 with a triple, a home run and four RBI.
» Freshman Robby Porco led the Mountaineers pitching staff, throwing four innings of one-run ball.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (2-12, 0-0 Big Ten) and West Virginia (8-4, 0-0 Big 12) play again tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT and Sunday at noon CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Porco, Robby (2-1)
L: Capomaccio, Caden (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Larson, Jake 1 ; Merila, Boston 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 2 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Hunt, Sam 2 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Berkland, Drew 1
SF: Hunt, Sam 1 ; Berkland, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1 ; Larson, Jake 2 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Berkland, Drew 1
SB: Larson, Jake 1
CS: Larson, Jake 1
PO: Bork, Kyle 1
Batting:
2B: Barry, Braden 2
3B: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Tucker, Tevin 1
HR: Wetherholt, J.J. 1
RBI: Barry, Braden 2 ; Wetherholt, J.J. 4 ; Barone, Nick 1 ; Hussey, Grant 1 ; King, Skylar 1 ; Dowdell, Kevin 1 ; Tucker, Tevin 2
SF: Barone, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barry, Braden 2 ; Wetherholt, J.J. 2 ; McNeely, Caleb 2 ; White, Sam 2 ; Sauve, Logan 1 ; Hussey, Grant 1 ; Dowdell, Kevin 1 ; Tucker, Tevin 4
SB: Tucker, Tevin 1
HBP: Leonard, Dayne 1
