University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
4-19
Creighton
9-7
Minnesota's Comeback Falls Short in 5-2 loss to Creighton
3/24/2023 6:47:00 PM | Baseball
Jake Perry delivered an RBI single
OMAHA, Neb. --The Golden Gophers fell in a 5-2 defeat to the Creighton Bluejays on Friday afternoon in the first of a two game series at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.
=Sophomore Tucker Novotny (0-3) started and took the loss on the mound for Minnesota (4-19). He went 5.2 innings on the mound, striking out four. Novotny held CU scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Bluejays erupted for five runs in the fifth and sixth. Sophomore Seth Clausen was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going two shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out three.
At the plate, the Golden Gophers were paced by sophomore Brady Counsell, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a double. Sophomore Jake Perry furnished a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither team could get anything going offensively until the fifth inning, when Creighton hit a solo home run to left field to get the scoring going. The Bluejays scored four of their five runs in the sixth, chasing Novotny from the game after tallying four hits and a walk to go up 5-0.
CU starter Ryan Windham had a perfect game going through 6.1 innings before Brady Counsell doubled with one out in the seventh to break it up. After an Ike Mezzenga infield single, Jake Perry's run-scoring single was the first of two runs scored in the inning. A wild pitch plated the second before Jake Larson lined out to center with men on second and third to end the frame.
The Gophers went down 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth innings to end the game with a 5-2 defeat.
GAME NOTES
» Minnesota went 2-for-4 (.500) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 34 Creighton hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out seven.
» Counsell led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a double. He broke up Windham's perfect game with one out in the seventh.
» Gophers third baseman Jake Perry knocked in his team-leading 15th RBI of the season.
» Creighton was led offensively by senior Tyler Lozano, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» Senior Ryan Windham led the Bluejays pitching staff, throwing 6.2 innings of two-run ball.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (4-19, 0-0 Big Ten) plays Creighton (9-7, 0-0 BIG EAST) tomorrow at 2 p.m. to close the non-conference weekend series for the year. FloBaseball will stream once again.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ryan Windham (1-1)
L: Novotny, Tucker (0-3)
S: Tommy Steier (2)
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1
RBI: Perry, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Neels, Weber 1
HBP: Merila, Boston 1
Batting:
2B: Tyler Lozano 1
HR: Colby Canales 1
RBI: Tyler Lozano 2 ; Sterling Hayes 1 ; Colby Canales 1 ; Tate Gillen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Andrew Meggs 1 ; Nolan Clifford 1 ; Tyler Lozano 1 ; Sterling Hayes 1 ; Colby Canales 1
SB: Sterling Hayes 1
