University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
10-22, 0
Iowa
23-9, 0
Gophers Split Doubleheader vs. Iowa
4/14/2023 6:34:00 PM | Baseball
Minnesota won game one, 12-3, and lost game two, 7-2
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-23, 4-4 Big Ten) and Iowa Hawkeyes (24-9, 3-5 Big Ten) split Friday's doubleheader at Siebert Field. Minnesota won 12-3 in game one while Iowa emerged with a 7-2 victory in game two.
GAME ONE
The Gophers erupted for eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings to erase a 3-0 deficit and take control of the game. The 'U' would add four more in the eighth to take home a convincing 12-3 win in game one.
Sophomore Brady Counsell led the way offensively for the Golden Gophers, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Freshman Weber Neels put together a standout day at the dish as well, going 2-for-5 with a walk and two RBI. Sophomore Ike Mezzenga also chipped in, going 2-for-4 for Minnesota with a walk and two RBI.
Minnesota left-hander Tucker Novotny (1-4) picked up his first win of the season after going six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and walking four for Minnesota. Sophomore Connor Wietgrefe also made an impact on the mound for the Golden Gophers, throwing three shutout innings while allowing one hit, with one walk and three strikeouts.
HOW GAME ONE HAPPENED
Iowa scored its three runs in the top of the third off a solo home run and a two-run triple. Minnesota's offense started clicking in the fifth as it put up seven runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Counsell and a two-run single from Neels. The 'U' chased Iowa ace Brody Brecht (3-2) out of the game after 4.1 innings.
Minnesota scored once more in the sixth on an RBI single off the bat of Mezzenga, which brought the score to 8-3.
The Gophers pitching and defense kept Iowa scoreless before building their lead to 12-3 in the eighth inning. A two-run single off the bat of Brady Jurgella and RBI knocks from Bateman and Counsell put the final nail in the UI coffin.
GAME ONE NOTES
» Counsell had three base knocks in the game for Minnesota.
» Novotny struck out eight Hawkeyes hitters for his second career win on the mound.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed seven runs across.
» Four Golden Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Hawkeyes at a 13-6 clip.
» Minnesota went 8-for-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Iowa to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» The Golden Gophers drew 11 walks from Iowa pitching.
» Counsell led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI.
» Iowa was led offensively by sophomore Keaton Anthony, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
GAME TWO
Iowa scored four of its seven runs in the second and third innings and never trailed in a 7-2 victory over the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota was paced by Brett Bateman and Weber Neels, who both went 2-for-4.
George Klassen (1-5) started and took the loss for Minnesota after going 3.0 innings, giving up four earned runs on three hits with four walks. Right-hander Ben Shepard came in to relieve Klassen and pitched admirably, striking out seven in 5.0 innings of work.
HOW GAME TWO HAPPENED
Iowa got on the board first, scoring one on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second. After holding the 'U' scoreless in the bottom of the frame, the Hawkeyes tacked on three in the top of the third with an RBI single and a two-run double.
Minnesota would answer back with the next two runs, getting one each in the third and fourth. Weber Neels drove in Brett Bateman with an RBI single in the bottom of the third before Sam Hunt drove in Kris Hokenson with a groundout in the fourth.
UI answered back with a two-run double in the top of the fifth to go up 6-2.
A Hawkeyes solo home run in the seventh put the visitors up 7-2, which would be the final score.
GAME TWO NOTES
» Brett Bateman put together his 15th multi-hit game of the season.
» Weber Neels tallied his fourth multi-hit game of the year, including his second straight.
» Ben Shepard tied a season-high with seven strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Minnesota and Iowa finish their series tomorrow at 2 p.m. on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Novotny, Tucker (1-4)
L: Brecht, Brody (3-2)
S: Wietgrefe, Connor (2)
Batting:
3B: Huckstorf, Kyle 1
HR: Anthony, Keaton 1
RBI: Anthony, Keaton 1 ; Huckstorf, Kyle 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Anthony, Keaton 1 ; Dorighi, Brennen 1 ; Tello, Raider 1
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Swenson, Riley 1
RBI: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Neels, Weber 2 ; Mezzenga, Ike 2 ; Counsell, Brady 3 ; Jurgella, Brady 2 ; Swenson, Riley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Perry, Jake 2 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 2 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Counsell, Brady 2 ; Jurgella, Brady 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Swenson, Riley 1
SB: Counsell, Brady 1
HBP: Merila, Boston 1
