University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 21
Urbana-Champaign, IL
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Illinois
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Hit the Road to Take on Illini
4/20/2023 9:50:00 AM | Baseball
Game one is Friday at 3 p.m. CT
Friday, April 21
Minnesota at Illinois
First Pitch: 3Â p.m.
Location: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Minnesota Starter:Â LHP Tucker Novotny (1-4, 4.56 ERA, 47.1 IP, 49K)
Illinois Starter: RHP Riley Gowens (1-2, 6.00 ERA, 48.0 IP, 57K)
TV:Â B1G+
Saturday, April 22
Minnesota at Illinois
First Pitch: 3Â p.m.
Location: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Minnesota Starter:Â RHP George Klassen (1-5, 5.35 ERA, 33.2 IP, 32K)
Illinois Starter:Â RHP Jake Schwartz (1-2, 5.55 ERA, 24.1 IP, 23K)
TV:Â B1G+
Sunday, April 23
Minnesota at Illinois
First Pitch: 1Â p.m.
Location: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Minnesota Starter:Â RHP Richie Holetz (2-3, 3.50 ERA, 46.1 IP, 40K)
Illinois Starter: RHP Jack Wenninger (4-3, 5.08 ERA, 44.1 IP, 49K)
TV: BTN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-24, 4-5 Big Ten) travel to Champaign, Ill., for their second Big Ten road series of the year. They'll take on the host Illinois Fighting Illini (15-18, 4-8 Big Ten) in a three-game series from Friday through Sunday. Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed on B1G+ while Sunday's game will be televised on BTN.
BIG TEN STANDINGS UPDATE
-Minnesota (4-5) is tied for seventh in the Big Ten through three series. Illinois is in 10th and will be looking to get back in the hunt. The top eight teams will make the B1G tournament in Omaha from May 23-28.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota fell in two of three games to Iowa this past weekend. The 'U' won 12-3 in game one Friday before falling 7-2 in game two and 18-4 in the series finale on Saturday.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
-Dan Hartleb is in his 18th season as head coach at Illinois with a career record of 522-379-1 (.576)
-Camden Janik leads the Illinois with a .313 average while Ryan Moerman holds the team lead in RBI (30).
-The Illini rank third in the Big Ten in home runs with 50, but rank second in the league in strikeouts (321).
-Outfielder Cam McDonald as well as right-handers Jack Crowder and Riley Gowens were selected by Big Ten coaches to the preseason honors list.
-Gowens is the Friday starter for the Illini and leads the team in innings pitched (48.0) and K's (57).
-Illinois took two of three from then No. 18 Southern Miss in the non-conference for its best wins of 2023.
-They've lost two of three to Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana and Michigan in their four Big Ten series.
SERIES HISTORYÂ
-Minnesota is 113-107-1 all-time vs. Illinois. The two teams last met in 2021. UI took three of four in 2021, with all games taking place at U.S. Bank Stadium. The last time they played in Champaign was in 2016, when the 'U' took two of three.
-Overall, Illinois has won seven of the last 10 in the series.
'U' WINS FIRST B1G ROAD SERIES SINCE 2019
-The 'U' took two of three from Ohio State (March 31-Apr. 2) to win its first conference road series since May 16-18, 2019.
-Trailing 2-0 in the ninth on Mar. 31, Brady Counsell and Weber Neels hit home runs to tie the game before Jake Perry hit a game-winning RBI double.
-On April 2, the Gophers got 6.0 innings of two-run ball from Richie Holetz. The offense scored five of its six runs in the second inning to take control.
OFFENSE ERUPTS FRIDAY VS. IOWA
-After trailing 3-0 early in game one Friday vs. Iowa, the Gophers exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning to take down the Hawkeyes.
-Minnesota would tack on four more in the eighth inning to come away with a decisive 12-3 win, breaking a six-game losing skid to Iowa.
NOVOTNY FINALLY PICKS UP FIRST WIN
-Despite five straight outings going 5.2-or-more innings with three-plus K's, Friday starter Tucker Novotny had yet to pick up his first win of 2023.
-That changed Friday vs. Iowa, when he struck out eight in 6.0 innings, giving up just three earned runs.
ROONEY RUNNING THE TABLE IN THE BULLPEN
-Minnesota left-hander Noah Rooney has been on a team out of the bullpen. In his last seven outings, Rooney has gone 18.1 innings, striking out 12 and allowing just three earned runs. His 3.67 ERA is the best of any Gophers bullpen member.
KLASSEN HAVING BIG REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON
-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. Klassen entered the year with plenty of hype, being named the No. 3 and 2023 MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten by DI Baseball and Perfect Game, respectively.
-Klassen has thrown a career-high 33.2 innings this year after combining to pitch in just 7.2 innings his first two. He redshirted in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and battled back from injury last year.
GOPHERS IN THE PROS
-2018 Gophers All-American shortstop Terrin Vavra was the second Gopher to make his Major League debut. He played in 40 games, hitting .258 with one home run, 12 RBI and 30 total hits. He joined the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2022 and played the rest of the season in the big leagues.
-Vavra has played in 10 games this year for the Orioles, totaling four hits in 20 at-bats (.200). He started in right field for the first time last week.
REACHED BASE STREAKS
-Brett Bateman and Boston Merila currently lead Minnesota with 14-game reached base streaks.
-Bateman is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak while Merila has done so twice in-a-row.
YOUTH MOVEMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
-With an average age of just 19.9 years old, the Golden Gophers have the youngest roster in the Big Ten conference. Of the everyday starters at the 'U', two are freshmen, three are sophomores, three are juniors and there's just one senior.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts NDSU and UST in mid-weeks before going to Nebraska for three games.
Minnesota at Illinois
First Pitch: 3Â p.m.
Location: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Minnesota Starter:Â LHP Tucker Novotny (1-4, 4.56 ERA, 47.1 IP, 49K)
Illinois Starter: RHP Riley Gowens (1-2, 6.00 ERA, 48.0 IP, 57K)
TV:Â B1G+
Saturday, April 22
Minnesota at Illinois
First Pitch: 3Â p.m.
Location: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Minnesota Starter:Â RHP George Klassen (1-5, 5.35 ERA, 33.2 IP, 32K)
Illinois Starter:Â RHP Jake Schwartz (1-2, 5.55 ERA, 24.1 IP, 23K)
TV:Â B1G+
Sunday, April 23
Minnesota at Illinois
First Pitch: 1Â p.m.
Location: Champaign, Ill. (Illinois Field)
Minnesota Starter:Â RHP Richie Holetz (2-3, 3.50 ERA, 46.1 IP, 40K)
Illinois Starter: RHP Jack Wenninger (4-3, 5.08 ERA, 44.1 IP, 49K)
TV: BTN
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-24, 4-5 Big Ten) travel to Champaign, Ill., for their second Big Ten road series of the year. They'll take on the host Illinois Fighting Illini (15-18, 4-8 Big Ten) in a three-game series from Friday through Sunday. Friday and Saturday's games will be streamed on B1G+ while Sunday's game will be televised on BTN.
BIG TEN STANDINGS UPDATE
-Minnesota (4-5) is tied for seventh in the Big Ten through three series. Illinois is in 10th and will be looking to get back in the hunt. The top eight teams will make the B1G tournament in Omaha from May 23-28.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota fell in two of three games to Iowa this past weekend. The 'U' won 12-3 in game one Friday before falling 7-2 in game two and 18-4 in the series finale on Saturday.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS
-Dan Hartleb is in his 18th season as head coach at Illinois with a career record of 522-379-1 (.576)
-Camden Janik leads the Illinois with a .313 average while Ryan Moerman holds the team lead in RBI (30).
-The Illini rank third in the Big Ten in home runs with 50, but rank second in the league in strikeouts (321).
-Outfielder Cam McDonald as well as right-handers Jack Crowder and Riley Gowens were selected by Big Ten coaches to the preseason honors list.
-Gowens is the Friday starter for the Illini and leads the team in innings pitched (48.0) and K's (57).
-Illinois took two of three from then No. 18 Southern Miss in the non-conference for its best wins of 2023.
-They've lost two of three to Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana and Michigan in their four Big Ten series.
SERIES HISTORYÂ
-Minnesota is 113-107-1 all-time vs. Illinois. The two teams last met in 2021. UI took three of four in 2021, with all games taking place at U.S. Bank Stadium. The last time they played in Champaign was in 2016, when the 'U' took two of three.
-Overall, Illinois has won seven of the last 10 in the series.
'U' WINS FIRST B1G ROAD SERIES SINCE 2019
-The 'U' took two of three from Ohio State (March 31-Apr. 2) to win its first conference road series since May 16-18, 2019.
-Trailing 2-0 in the ninth on Mar. 31, Brady Counsell and Weber Neels hit home runs to tie the game before Jake Perry hit a game-winning RBI double.
-On April 2, the Gophers got 6.0 innings of two-run ball from Richie Holetz. The offense scored five of its six runs in the second inning to take control.
OFFENSE ERUPTS FRIDAY VS. IOWA
-After trailing 3-0 early in game one Friday vs. Iowa, the Gophers exploded for seven runs in the fifth inning to take down the Hawkeyes.
-Minnesota would tack on four more in the eighth inning to come away with a decisive 12-3 win, breaking a six-game losing skid to Iowa.
NOVOTNY FINALLY PICKS UP FIRST WIN
-Despite five straight outings going 5.2-or-more innings with three-plus K's, Friday starter Tucker Novotny had yet to pick up his first win of 2023.
-That changed Friday vs. Iowa, when he struck out eight in 6.0 innings, giving up just three earned runs.
ROONEY RUNNING THE TABLE IN THE BULLPEN
-Minnesota left-hander Noah Rooney has been on a team out of the bullpen. In his last seven outings, Rooney has gone 18.1 innings, striking out 12 and allowing just three earned runs. His 3.67 ERA is the best of any Gophers bullpen member.
KLASSEN HAVING BIG REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON
-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. Klassen entered the year with plenty of hype, being named the No. 3 and 2023 MLB Draft Prospect in the Big Ten by DI Baseball and Perfect Game, respectively.
-Klassen has thrown a career-high 33.2 innings this year after combining to pitch in just 7.2 innings his first two. He redshirted in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and battled back from injury last year.
GOPHERS IN THE PROS
-2018 Gophers All-American shortstop Terrin Vavra was the second Gopher to make his Major League debut. He played in 40 games, hitting .258 with one home run, 12 RBI and 30 total hits. He joined the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2022 and played the rest of the season in the big leagues.
-Vavra has played in 10 games this year for the Orioles, totaling four hits in 20 at-bats (.200). He started in right field for the first time last week.
REACHED BASE STREAKS
-Brett Bateman and Boston Merila currently lead Minnesota with 14-game reached base streaks.
-Bateman is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak while Merila has done so twice in-a-row.
YOUTH MOVEMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
-With an average age of just 19.9 years old, the Golden Gophers have the youngest roster in the Big Ten conference. Of the everyday starters at the 'U', two are freshmen, three are sophomores, three are juniors and there's just one senior.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts NDSU and UST in mid-weeks before going to Nebraska for three games.
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15
Gopher Baseball Senior Salute
Monday, May 12