University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-15
Gonzaga
3-11
Minnesota Drops 15-Inning Thriller to Gonzaga
3/14/2023 10:28:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers got a stellar pitching performance from Ben Shepard
MINNEAPOLIS --The Minnesota Golden Gophers fell 6-4 in a 15-inning marathon matchup to the Gonzaga Bulldogs Tuesday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Junior Noah DeLuga (0-1) took the loss on the mound for Minnesota (2-15). Sophomore Noah Rooney was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going four shutout innings while allowing three hits, walking one and striking out three.
Sophomore Jake Perry led the way offensively for the Golden Gophers, going 3-for-5 in the ballgame with two doubles, two walks and two RBI. He hit a two-run double in the first inning that put Minnesota up 2-1. Junior Boston Merila put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-6 with a double and a walk. Freshman Sam Hunt also chipped in, going 2-for-5 for Minnesota with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0, the Golden Gophers put two runs on the board early after Perry's two-run double off the wall put the Gophers ahead. Gonzaga would tie up the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh off an RBI single. The two teams then went scoreless until the top of the 15th.
The Bulldogs scored four runs off a pair of doubles and a single to take a 6-2 lead. Minnesota managed to push across two runs in the inning after a pair of hits and a sac fly, but were unable to get any closer.
GAME NOTES
» Perry led the Golden Gophers offensively, amassing three base knocks in the ballgame, including two doubles and an RBI.
» Senior Ben Shepard put together 6.2 innings of work for Minnesota. He struck out six and allowed just five hits and two earned runs.
» Minnesota left 14 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 68 Gonzaga hitters in the game, allowing 13 ground balls and 22 fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Golden Gophers drew eight walks from Gonzaga pitching and struck out 15 times.
» Gonzaga was led offensively by junior Brian Kalmer, who went 4-for-7 with a double and two RBI.
» Junior Bradley Mullan led the Bulldogs pitching staff, throwing six scoreless innings.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (2-15, 0-0 Big Ten) and Gonzaga (3-11, 0-0 WCC) square off again tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: DESCHRYVER, NATE (1-2)
L: DeLuga, Noah (0-1)
Batting:
2B: COBALLES, CONNOR 2 ; APODACA, ENZO 1 ; KALMER, BRIAN 1
RBI: COBALLES, CONNOR 2 ; APODACA, ENZO 1 ; KALMER, BRIAN 2 ; STERLING, GRAYSON 1
SH: SAMPERI, EZRA 1 ; MARENCO, MASON 1
Base Running:
RUNS: COBALLES, CONNOR 2 ; APODACA, ENZO 1 ; PINALES, SAVIER 1 ; BOZETT, BROCK 1 ; MARENCO, MASON 1
HBP: APODACA, ENZO 1 ; STERLING, GRAYSON 1 ; STEM, SAM 1
Batting:
2B: Merila, Boston 1 ; Perry, Jake 2
RBI: Perry, Jake 2 ; Hunt, Sam 1 ; Neels, Weber 1
SH: Hunt, Sam 1 ; Larson, Jake 1 ; Jurgella, Brady 1
SF: Hunt, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Merila, Boston 2 ; Perry, Jake 1
