University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
1-11
Northern Illinois
3-9
Gophers Get into Win Column with 5-3 Decision over Northern Illinois
3/7/2023 8:52:00 PM | Baseball
Riley Swenson hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth
MINNEAPOLIS -- Senior Ben Shepard punched out seven Northern Illinois hitters over five innings of work to help lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers past the Northern Illinois Huskies 5-3 on Tuesday night for their first win of the season.
In addition to his seven strikeouts (tied career-high), Shepard went five innings, giving up two runs on six hits and walking none for Minnesota (1-11). Sophomore Seth Clausen came in to close the game in the ninth after Cam Blazek went 2.1 innings, allowing just one earned run.
Offensively, the Golden Gophers were led by senior Riley Swenson, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a home run and two RBI. Sophomore Ike Mezzenga compiled a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with two RBI for his team-best seventh multi-hit game of 2023. Sophomore Brady Counsell also contributed for Minnesota, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 2-0, the Golden Gophers first put runs on the board in the fourth inning. Minnesota would tie up the game on an RBI groundout by Mezzenga and a stolen base/errant throw by NIU's pitcher, which allowed Counsell to score after stealing third.
The game remained tied until the sixth inning, when the Golden Gophers got going again on offense. Minnesota scored twice on Swenson's two-out, two-run homer, which gave the Gophers a lead they would not relinquish.
The Golden Gophers scored once more on an RBI single off the bat of Mezzenga in the seventh inning. Northern Illinois put one more run on the board off an RBI groundout in the eighth, but Minnesota still held on for the 5-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Ben Shepard struck out seven Huskies hitters in 5.0 innings.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 35 Northern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out eight.
» Swenson led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
» Northern Illinois was led offensively by junior Eric Erato, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
» Sophomore Conner Lutes led the Huskies pitching staff, throwing two shutout innings.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (1-11) takes on South Dakota State (3-4) tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium. B1G+ will again stream the contest.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Blazek, Cam (1-0)
L: HESS, DJ (0-2)
S: Clausen, Seth (1)
Batting:
2B: ERATO, Eric 1
RBI: ERATO, Eric 1 ; DEMETRAL, Andre 1 ; HARPER, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ERATO, Eric 1 ; PETERS, Malik 2
SB: DEMETRAL, Andre 1 ; KELLEY, Mason 1
CS: ERATO, Eric 1
Batting:
HR: Swenson, Riley 1
RBI: Mezzenga, Ike 2 ; Swenson, Riley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 2 ; Counsell, Brady 2 ; Swenson, Riley 1
SB: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1 ; Berkland, Drew 1
HBP: Merila, Boston 2
