University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-13
West Virginia
9-4
Big Fifth Inning Propels WVU to 7-2 Win Over 'U'
3/11/2023 4:20:00 PM | Baseball
George Klassen struck out a career-best eight hitters
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. -- Minnesota redshirt sophomore George Klassen had everything working on Saturday, fanning eight West Virginia hitters over 4.1 innings of work, but it was not enough as the Minnesota Golden Gophers lost to the West Virginia Mountaineers 7-2.
With his career-best eight strikeouts, Klassen (0-3) also tossed 4.1 innings (career-best) with four runs and three hits allowed for Minnesota (2-13).
West Virginia scored five of its seven runs in a wild bottom of the fifth inning.
In the batter's box, the Golden Gophers were paced by freshman Sam Hunt, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Brady Counsell put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Sophomore Jake Perry chipped in for Minnesota with his second double of the season. The Gophers had eight hits as a team.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams were scoreless through 2.5 innings before WVU put its first run on the board with a two-out RBI single. The Mountaineers' big frame came in the bottom of the fifth, where they scored five runs on three walks, two hits, a Gophers throwing error and a wild pitch. WVU took a 6-0 lead into the sixth.
Trailing 6-0, the Gophers put a pair of runs on the board in the sixth. Counsell doubled to start the inning and scored on an RBI single by Sam Hunt. Hunt would come in to score on a sacrifice fly by Boston Merila. The Mountaineers tacked on one more in the seventh on a solo home run to go up 7-2, which would be the final score.
GAME NOTES
» Redshirt sophomore George Klassen fanned eight Mountaineers hitters, a career-best.
» Golden Gophers pitchers combined to strike out a season-best 13 West Virginia hitters.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 38 West Virginia hitters in the game, allowing six ground balls and four fly balls while striking out 13.
» Hunt led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
» Brady Counsell went 2-for-3 with a walk. He's now 6-for-8 at the plate this weekend.
» West Virginia was led offensively by senior Caleb McNeely, who went 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI.
» Senior Blaine Traxel led the Mountaineers pitching staff, throwing eight innings of two-run ball.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (2-13, 0-0 Big Ten) and West Virginia (9-4, 0-0 Big 12) finish their series tomorrow at noon ET/11 a.m. ET on ESPN+. Original start time was 1 p.m. ET/noon CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Traxel, Blaine (3-1)
L: Klassen, George (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Hunt, Sam 1 ; Perry, Jake 1
RBI: Hunt, Sam 1 ; Merila, Boston 1
SF: Merila, Boston 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Hunt, Sam 1
Batting:
2B: White, Sam 1
HR: McNeely, Caleb 1
RBI: Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Leonard, Dayne 1 ; McNeely, Caleb 1 ; White, Sam 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Barry, Braden 2 ; Wetherholt, J.J. 1 ; Leonard, Dayne 1 ; McNeely, Caleb 2 ; Tucker, Tevin 1
SB: Barry, Braden 2 ; Wetherholt, J.J. 2 ; Tucker, Tevin 2
CS: Garcia, Ellis 1
