University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 17
Minneapolis, MN
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Houston
Players Mentioned
OF
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INF
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RHP
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OF
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RHP
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OF
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LHP
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LHP
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Minnesota Hosts Houston in Final U.S. Bank Stadium Series
3/16/2023 11:17:00 AM | Baseball
Game one is Friday night at 6 p.m.
Friday, March 17
Minnesota vs. Houston
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (0-1, 5.94 ERA, 16.2 IP, 16K)
Houston Starter: RHP Maddux Miller (1-0, 5.67 ERA, 9.1 IP, 9K)
TV: B1G+
Saturday, March 18
Minnesota vs. Houston
First Pitch: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: RHP George Klassen (0-3, 8.31 ERA, 13.0 IP, 18K)
Houston Starter: RHP Paul Schmitz (0-1, 5.23 ERA, 10.1 IP, 11K)
TV: B1G+
Sunday, March 19
Minnesota vs. Houston
First Pitch: Noon CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (0-1, 3.43 ERA, 21.0 IP, 13K)
Houston Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-15, 0-0 Big Ten) are hosting the Houston Cougars (5-11, 0-0 AAC) for a three game series at U.S. Bank Stadium. This will be the final series of the year at USBS, with the Gophers scheduled to move to Siebert Field for next weekend's games against Creighton. All games will be streamed on B1G+ and live stats will be available at Gophersports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota split with Gonzaga in two games this week, losing 6-4 Tuesday and winning 10-8 Wednesday. The Gophers scored five runs in the eighth inning to come back on Wednesday and defeat the Bulldogs.
HISTORICAL NOTES
-The 'U' is in its 135th year in program history in 2023
-John Anderson is in his 42nd year at the helm of Gopher Baseball, holding a 1,350-979-3 (.582) record. This includes a 604-400 (.603) B1G mark. Under his watch, the Gophers have won 11 B1G titles and hold 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
-The winningest coach in Big Ten history, Anderson won his 600th conference game in April vs. Penn State. He's the only B1G coach to reach that mark.
-Anderson coached his 1,000th career B1G game in May against Indiana. He's the only coach in conference history to hit that mark.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
-Houston (5-11, 0-0 AAC) is coming off a 37-24 season that saw them finish third in the league and make it to the American Championship title game.
-The Cougars, led by head coach Todd Whitting (13th season), return Buster Posey Award Semifinalist Anthony Tulimero and Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist Ian McMillan in the field.
-UH was picked to finish second in the AAC behind only East Carolina in the league's preseason poll. Their catcher Tulimero and shortstop McMillan were joined on the preseason all-league team by third baseman Zach Arnold.
-Utility player Alex Lopez leads the team with a .333 batting average so far in 2023.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota is 13-13-2 all-time against Houston. The two teams last met in 2015 for a three-game series in Houston, which the Cougars swept.
GOPHERS AT U.S. BANK STADIUM
-Minnesota is 3-5 at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2023, with wins over NIU, SDSU and Gonzaga.
-The Gophers went 6-6 last season at U.S. Bank Stadium. They swept Western Illinois and defeated Air Force, Kansas and West Virginia once each.
-Dating back to 2020, Minnesota is 18-27 when playing at U.S. Bank Stadium.
'U' LOOKING TO BUILD ON MID-WEEKS
-The Gophers got off the schneid last week with wins over Northern Illinois (5-3) and South Dakota State (3-2). Minnesota trailed in both games early before coming from behind to take its first two victories of the season.
-The 'U' finished its U.S. Bank Stadium mid-week season with a 3-2 record, going 1-1 versus Gonzaga this week.
GOPHERS SWIPING BASES AT A HIGH RATE
-Base stealing is a key element of Minnesota's game. They finished in the top-5 of the Big Ten last year and are on pace again in 2022.
-The Gophers are 22-31 in stolen bases, a number that's good for 6th in the league. Brett Bateman and Brady Counsell lead the team with seven each.
HOLETZ HOLDING FIRM IN SENIOR YEAR
-Fifth year senior Richie Holetz has been a major bright spot on the mound for the Gophers this spring. In his second year on campus since coming over from Omaha, he leads all starting pitchers in innings pitched (21.0), lowest opponent batting average (.260), hits (20) and earned runs (8).
-Holetz tossed a Minnesota-best 6.0 innings against No. 7 Vanderbilt last Sunday, giving up just three earned runs against one of the nation's top teams.
MERILA MAKING MAGIC HAPPEN AT THE DISH
-Boston Merila has been on a tear in the past week. He's on a five-game hitting streak, going 11-for-21 (.524) with three doubles, 6 RBI and four runs.
-Merila is tied for the team lead with seven multi-hit games and leads the team in average (.343).
WIETGREFE WHIFFING HITTERS IN FIRST MINNESOTA SEASON
-One of a pair of NIACC transfers in, left-hander Connor Wietgrefe has been a revelation out of the bullpen. The Prior Lake, Minn., native leads the team with 10 appearances (15.2 IP) and has fanned 19 hitters, which also leads the team.
JURGELLA JUMPS RIGHT IN
-Junior outfielder Brady Jurgella, who missed the first 12 games of the season due to injury, has jumped in and made a difference this past week.
-In six games, he's hitting .333 with six hits, including a pair of doubles and three RBI. He hit a two-run single Wednesday in the win versus Gonzaga.
FIELDING BECOMING TEAM STRENGTH
-The Gophers are tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a .972 fielding percentage this year. The Gophers 187 assists and 497 putouts both lead the league.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will travel to Illinois State for games on Tuesday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 22. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Minnesota vs. Houston
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (0-1, 5.94 ERA, 16.2 IP, 16K)
Houston Starter: RHP Maddux Miller (1-0, 5.67 ERA, 9.1 IP, 9K)
TV: B1G+
Saturday, March 18
Minnesota vs. Houston
First Pitch: 2 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: RHP George Klassen (0-3, 8.31 ERA, 13.0 IP, 18K)
Houston Starter: RHP Paul Schmitz (0-1, 5.23 ERA, 10.1 IP, 11K)
TV: B1G+
Sunday, March 19
Minnesota vs. Houston
First Pitch: Noon CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Bank Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (0-1, 3.43 ERA, 21.0 IP, 13K)
Houston Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-15, 0-0 Big Ten) are hosting the Houston Cougars (5-11, 0-0 AAC) for a three game series at U.S. Bank Stadium. This will be the final series of the year at USBS, with the Gophers scheduled to move to Siebert Field for next weekend's games against Creighton. All games will be streamed on B1G+ and live stats will be available at Gophersports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota split with Gonzaga in two games this week, losing 6-4 Tuesday and winning 10-8 Wednesday. The Gophers scored five runs in the eighth inning to come back on Wednesday and defeat the Bulldogs.
HISTORICAL NOTES
-The 'U' is in its 135th year in program history in 2023
-John Anderson is in his 42nd year at the helm of Gopher Baseball, holding a 1,350-979-3 (.582) record. This includes a 604-400 (.603) B1G mark. Under his watch, the Gophers have won 11 B1G titles and hold 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
-The winningest coach in Big Ten history, Anderson won his 600th conference game in April vs. Penn State. He's the only B1G coach to reach that mark.
-Anderson coached his 1,000th career B1G game in May against Indiana. He's the only coach in conference history to hit that mark.
SCOUTING HOUSTON
-Houston (5-11, 0-0 AAC) is coming off a 37-24 season that saw them finish third in the league and make it to the American Championship title game.
-The Cougars, led by head coach Todd Whitting (13th season), return Buster Posey Award Semifinalist Anthony Tulimero and Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist Ian McMillan in the field.
-UH was picked to finish second in the AAC behind only East Carolina in the league's preseason poll. Their catcher Tulimero and shortstop McMillan were joined on the preseason all-league team by third baseman Zach Arnold.
-Utility player Alex Lopez leads the team with a .333 batting average so far in 2023.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota is 13-13-2 all-time against Houston. The two teams last met in 2015 for a three-game series in Houston, which the Cougars swept.
GOPHERS AT U.S. BANK STADIUM
-Minnesota is 3-5 at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2023, with wins over NIU, SDSU and Gonzaga.
-The Gophers went 6-6 last season at U.S. Bank Stadium. They swept Western Illinois and defeated Air Force, Kansas and West Virginia once each.
-Dating back to 2020, Minnesota is 18-27 when playing at U.S. Bank Stadium.
'U' LOOKING TO BUILD ON MID-WEEKS
-The Gophers got off the schneid last week with wins over Northern Illinois (5-3) and South Dakota State (3-2). Minnesota trailed in both games early before coming from behind to take its first two victories of the season.
-The 'U' finished its U.S. Bank Stadium mid-week season with a 3-2 record, going 1-1 versus Gonzaga this week.
GOPHERS SWIPING BASES AT A HIGH RATE
-Base stealing is a key element of Minnesota's game. They finished in the top-5 of the Big Ten last year and are on pace again in 2022.
-The Gophers are 22-31 in stolen bases, a number that's good for 6th in the league. Brett Bateman and Brady Counsell lead the team with seven each.
HOLETZ HOLDING FIRM IN SENIOR YEAR
-Fifth year senior Richie Holetz has been a major bright spot on the mound for the Gophers this spring. In his second year on campus since coming over from Omaha, he leads all starting pitchers in innings pitched (21.0), lowest opponent batting average (.260), hits (20) and earned runs (8).
-Holetz tossed a Minnesota-best 6.0 innings against No. 7 Vanderbilt last Sunday, giving up just three earned runs against one of the nation's top teams.
MERILA MAKING MAGIC HAPPEN AT THE DISH
-Boston Merila has been on a tear in the past week. He's on a five-game hitting streak, going 11-for-21 (.524) with three doubles, 6 RBI and four runs.
-Merila is tied for the team lead with seven multi-hit games and leads the team in average (.343).
WIETGREFE WHIFFING HITTERS IN FIRST MINNESOTA SEASON
-One of a pair of NIACC transfers in, left-hander Connor Wietgrefe has been a revelation out of the bullpen. The Prior Lake, Minn., native leads the team with 10 appearances (15.2 IP) and has fanned 19 hitters, which also leads the team.
JURGELLA JUMPS RIGHT IN
-Junior outfielder Brady Jurgella, who missed the first 12 games of the season due to injury, has jumped in and made a difference this past week.
-In six games, he's hitting .333 with six hits, including a pair of doubles and three RBI. He hit a two-run single Wednesday in the win versus Gonzaga.
FIELDING BECOMING TEAM STRENGTH
-The Gophers are tied for fourth in the Big Ten with a .972 fielding percentage this year. The Gophers 187 assists and 497 putouts both lead the league.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will travel to Illinois State for games on Tuesday, March 21 and Wednesday, March 22. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15
Gopher Baseball Senior Salute
Monday, May 12