University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 31
Columbus, OH
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Ohio State
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Bailey Orr
Minnesota Opens Big Ten Play at Ohio State
3/29/2023 5:20:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers are 24-16 under John Anderson in B1G Openers
Friday, March 31
Minnesota at Ohio State
First Pitch: 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (0-3, 5.83 ERA, 29.1 IP, 23K)
Ohio State Starter: Isaiah Coupet (3-2, 4.03 ERA, 29.0 IP, 42K)
TV: B1G+
Saturday, April 1
Minnesota at Ohio State
First Pitch: 2Â p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Minnesota Starter:Â RHP George Klassen (1-3, 4.05 ERA, 26.2 IP, 28K)
Ohio State Starter: LHP Gavin Bruni (0-0, 4.87 ERA, 20.1 IP, 22K)
TV: B1G+
Sunday, April 2
Minnesota at Ohio State
First Pitch: 1Â p.m. ET/Noon CT
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (0-2, 2.40 ERA, 30.0 IP, 23K)
Ohio State Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
COLUMBUS, Ohio. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-19, 0-0 Big Ten) travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-11, 0-3 Big Ten) in a three game series to open Big Ten play. Live stats will be available at OhioStateBuckeyes.com while B1G+ is set to provide streaming.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota defeated Creighton 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, its first team shutout of the year. George Klassen (6.0 IP) and Richie Holetz (3.0 IP) combined to let up just three hits with four walks on the day.
HISTORICAL NOTES
-The 'U' is in its 135th year in program history.
-John Anderson is in his 42nd year at the helm of Gopher Baseball, holding a 1,352-983-3 (.581) 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.
GEORGE KLASSEN NAMED BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK
-Redshirt sophomore right-hander George Klassen was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after a career performance against Houston. He went 7.2 innings (career-best), striking out eight while allowing no earned runs and just one hit. It's the first conference weekly honor of his career.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
-The Ohio State Buckeyes (12-11, 0-3 Big Ten) are led by first year head coach Bill Mosiello, who comes to Columbus after spending nine years as an associate head coach at TCU.
-OSU has played a challenging schedule, getting key non-conference wins over UCONN (twice), Mississippi State, Gonzaga and Oklahoma. The Buckeyes dropped all three games last weekend to open Big Ten play at Indiana, however.
-Outfielders Kade Kern and pitcher Isaiah Coupet were selected to Perfect Game's Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Kern is hitting .345 with five home runs while Coupet is 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five starts.
SERIES HISTORYÂ
-Minnesota is 100-93-1 all-time vs. OSU. The two teams last played in 2019, when the Gophers swept at Siebert Field. The 'U' took two of three at Ohio State in 2018, the last time they played in Columbus. Minnesota has won eight of the last nine in the series, including five of six in Columbus.
-Minnesota is 24-16 in B1G openers under John Anderson.
GOPHERS ON THE ROAD
-Minnesota is 2-4 so far on the road this year, including winning two of its last three with victories over Illinois State (10-3) and Creighton (3-0) last week. Prior to that, the Gophers were swept in three games by West Virginia from March 10-12.
-Last year, the Gophers went 2-18 in true road games, winning their first vs. FAU and last game vs. Indiana. Minnesota went 1-11 in Big Ten road games in 2022.
'U' LOOKING TO BUILD ON MID-WEEKS
-The Gophers got off the schneid two weeks back 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 last week. Overall, Minnesota is 4-3 in mid-week games and 1-16 on weekends.
FIELDING BECOMING A TEAM STRENGTH
-Minnesota ranks second in the Big Ten with a .976 fielding percentage thus far. The Gophers lead the conference in putouts (659) and assists (258) while making just 23 errors. The 'U' has made just three errors in the past nine games.
PITCHING SHOWS IMPROVEMENT IN MARCH
-Minnesota's pitching staff got off to a slow start, posting an 0-7 record with a 7.92 ERA in the month of February. Since March 1, however, the staff holds a 4.44 ERA. Opponent batting average is down to 2.59 from the .289 it was in the first seven games.
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 (30.0), lowest ERA (2.40), and fewest walks (11), while striking out 23.
-Holetz tossed a Minnesota-best 6.0 innings against Houston last Sunday, giving up zero earned runs and striking out a career-best seven batters. He picked up his first save in 3.0 shutout innings at Creighton on Saturday afternoon.
COUNSELL SHOWS CONSISTENCY, DURABILITY
-Second baseman Brady Counsell leads the team in starts (24) and assists (55, .982 fielding) while ranking second in hits (26), doubles (7) and runs scored (14). He's one of two Gophers to play in every game in 2023 and the only one to start in each.
-In 2022, Counsell played the most games of any freshman, starting in 24 of 36 games he played in.
-He slashed .200/.320/.283 with one home run, 20 hits, 10 RBI, 11 runs scored and five doubles.
UP NEXT
Minnesota comes home to host St. Thomas in its home opener on Tuesday at Siebert Field. The Gophers play South Dakota State on Wednesday and open their conference home slate against Purdue on Friday for a three game series.
Minnesota at Ohio State
First Pitch: 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (0-3, 5.83 ERA, 29.1 IP, 23K)
Ohio State Starter: Isaiah Coupet (3-2, 4.03 ERA, 29.0 IP, 42K)
TV: B1G+
Saturday, April 1
Minnesota at Ohio State
First Pitch: 2Â p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Minnesota Starter:Â RHP George Klassen (1-3, 4.05 ERA, 26.2 IP, 28K)
Ohio State Starter: LHP Gavin Bruni (0-0, 4.87 ERA, 20.1 IP, 22K)
TV: B1G+
Sunday, April 2
Minnesota at Ohio State
First Pitch: 1Â p.m. ET/Noon CT
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (0-2, 2.40 ERA, 30.0 IP, 23K)
Ohio State Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
COLUMBUS, Ohio. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-19, 0-0 Big Ten) travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes (12-11, 0-3 Big Ten) in a three game series to open Big Ten play. Live stats will be available at OhioStateBuckeyes.com while B1G+ is set to provide streaming.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota defeated Creighton 3-0 on Saturday afternoon, its first team shutout of the year. George Klassen (6.0 IP) and Richie Holetz (3.0 IP) combined to let up just three hits with four walks on the day.
HISTORICAL NOTES
-The 'U' is in its 135th year in program history.
-John Anderson is in his 42nd year at the helm of Gopher Baseball, holding a 1,352-983-3 (.581) 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.
GEORGE KLASSEN NAMED BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK
-Redshirt sophomore right-hander George Klassen was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after a career performance against Houston. He went 7.2 innings (career-best), striking out eight while allowing no earned runs and just one hit. It's the first conference weekly honor of his career.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
-The Ohio State Buckeyes (12-11, 0-3 Big Ten) are led by first year head coach Bill Mosiello, who comes to Columbus after spending nine years as an associate head coach at TCU.
-OSU has played a challenging schedule, getting key non-conference wins over UCONN (twice), Mississippi State, Gonzaga and Oklahoma. The Buckeyes dropped all three games last weekend to open Big Ten play at Indiana, however.
-Outfielders Kade Kern and pitcher Isaiah Coupet were selected to Perfect Game's Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Kern is hitting .345 with five home runs while Coupet is 3-2 with a 4.03 ERA in five starts.
SERIES HISTORYÂ
-Minnesota is 100-93-1 all-time vs. OSU. The two teams last played in 2019, when the Gophers swept at Siebert Field. The 'U' took two of three at Ohio State in 2018, the last time they played in Columbus. Minnesota has won eight of the last nine in the series, including five of six in Columbus.
-Minnesota is 24-16 in B1G openers under John Anderson.
GOPHERS ON THE ROAD
-Minnesota is 2-4 so far on the road this year, including winning two of its last three with victories over Illinois State (10-3) and Creighton (3-0) last week. Prior to that, the Gophers were swept in three games by West Virginia from March 10-12.
-Last year, the Gophers went 2-18 in true road games, winning their first vs. FAU and last game vs. Indiana. Minnesota went 1-11 in Big Ten road games in 2022.
'U' LOOKING TO BUILD ON MID-WEEKS
-The Gophers got off the schneid two weeks back 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 last week. Overall, Minnesota is 4-3 in mid-week games and 1-16 on weekends.
FIELDING BECOMING A TEAM STRENGTH
-Minnesota ranks second in the Big Ten with a .976 fielding percentage thus far. The Gophers lead the conference in putouts (659) and assists (258) while making just 23 errors. The 'U' has made just three errors in the past nine games.
PITCHING SHOWS IMPROVEMENT IN MARCH
-Minnesota's pitching staff got off to a slow start, posting an 0-7 record with a 7.92 ERA in the month of February. Since March 1, however, the staff holds a 4.44 ERA. Opponent batting average is down to 2.59 from the .289 it was in the first seven games.
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 (30.0), lowest ERA (2.40), and fewest walks (11), while striking out 23.
-Holetz tossed a Minnesota-best 6.0 innings against Houston last Sunday, giving up zero earned runs and striking out a career-best seven batters. He picked up his first save in 3.0 shutout innings at Creighton on Saturday afternoon.
COUNSELL SHOWS CONSISTENCY, DURABILITY
-Second baseman Brady Counsell leads the team in starts (24) and assists (55, .982 fielding) while ranking second in hits (26), doubles (7) and runs scored (14). He's one of two Gophers to play in every game in 2023 and the only one to start in each.
-In 2022, Counsell played the most games of any freshman, starting in 24 of 36 games he played in.
-He slashed .200/.320/.283 with one home run, 20 hits, 10 RBI, 11 runs scored and five doubles.
UP NEXT
Minnesota comes home to host St. Thomas in its home opener on Tuesday at Siebert Field. The Gophers play South Dakota State on Wednesday and open their conference home slate against Purdue on Friday for a three game series.
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15