University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
3-16
Houston
6-11
Minnesota's Comeback Falls Just Short to Houston
3/17/2023 8:40:00 PM | Baseball
Counsell and Mezzenga hit solo home runs
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brady Counsell and Ike Mezzenga hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning, but the Gophers could not complete their comeback and fell to the Houston Cougars by the score of 3-2 on Friday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Sophomore Tucker Novotny (0-2) got the ball to start for Minnesota (3-16) and took the loss despite going a career-best seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits, allowing no walks and striking out three. Sophomore Noah Rooney was another bright spot for the Golden Gophers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing two scoreless innings, allowing no hits, with one walk and two strikeouts.
Sophomore Ike Mezzenga led the way offensively for the Golden Gophers, going 2-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and an RBI. Sophomore Brady Counsell put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Junior Brett Bateman also helped out, going 1-for-4 for Minnesota with a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Houston scored two of its three runs in the top of the fifth. After getting a leadoff triple followed by a hit-by-pitch, the Cougars scored off an RBI groundout and a suicide squeeze bunt. They would add one more in the seventh off an RBI single to go up 3-0.
The Golden Gophers put their only runs on the board in the eighth inning. Minnesota scored two runs on solo shots from Counsell (first of the season) and Mezzenga (first as a Gopher). The Golden Gophers were unable to tie it up in the ninth, going down 1-2-3.
GAME NOTES
» Tucker Novotny (7.0 innings) had a career-long outing.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 34 Houston hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out five.
» The Golden Gophers drew five walks from Houston pitching.
» Mezzenga led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Houston was led offensively by junior Justin Murray, who went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
» Senior Maddux Miller (2-0) got the win, he led the Cougars pitching staff, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (3-16, 0-0 Big Ten) and Houston (6-11, 0-0 AAC) play again tomorrow at 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MILLER, Maddux (2-0)
L: Novotny, Tucker (0-2)
S: FORSYTH, Braden (1)
Batting:
3B: MURRAY, Justin 1
RBI: MURRAY, Justin 1 ; MCMILLAN, Ian 1 ; BIANCO, Drew 1
SH: BIANCO, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: UHSE, Brandon 1 ; MURRAY, Justin 1 ; BURCKEL, Brandon 1
SB: UHSE, Brandon 1 ; BURCKEL, Brandon 2
CS: MURRAY, Justin 1
HBP: ARNOLD, Zach 1 ; BURCKEL, Brandon 2
Batting:
2B: Bateman, Brett 1
HR: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1
SB: Mezzenga, Ike 1
CS: Larson, Jake 1
