University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
10-25, 0
Illinois
16-18, 0
'U' Drops 9-3 Decision to Illinois
4/21/2023 6:02:00 PM | Baseball
The Illini scored eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Sophomore Brady Counsell racked up three hits, including a two-run home run, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers fell to the Illinois Fighting Illini 9-3 on Friday.
Sophomore Tucker Novotny (1-5) got the ball to start for Minnesota (10-25, 4-6 Big Ten) and took the loss. He gave up four earned runs and struck out six in 4.0 innings of work.
Illinois (16-18, 5-8 Big Ten) did most of its offensive work in the fourth and fifth innings and coasted the rest of the way.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Illinois broke the game open in the middle innings with eight combined runs in the fourth and fifth. They hit a pair of two-run home runs in the fourth and got a two-run double and another two-run home run in the fifth.
Minnesota scored its first run in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with one out. Boston Merila came across to score the lone run of the inning on a wild pitch to put the team on the board.
The Fighting Illini expanded their lead to 9-1 before the Golden Gophers scored a pair on a ninth inning two-run home run by Counsell. Minnesota would get no closer, falling 9-3.
GAME NOTES
» Counsell led the Golden Gophers, compiling three hits in the ballgame, his fourth three-plus hit affair this year. The home run was his third of 2023.
» Sophomore Noah Rooney was a bright spot out of the bullpen and throwing two shutout innings, allowing no hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
» Minnesota has lost three straight since winning three in-a-row last week.
» Boston Merila kept his 15-game on-base streak going with a walk and a single.
» Illinois was led offensively by junior Jacob Schroeder, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
» Junior Riley Gowens led the Fighting Illini pitching staff, throwing 6.1 innings of one-run ball.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (10-25, 4-6 Big Ten) takes on Illinois (16-18, 5-8 Big Ten) again tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gowens, Riley (2-2)
L: Novotny, Tucker (1-5)
Batting:
HR: Counsell, Brady 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Larson, Jake 1 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1
CS: Merila, Boston 1
Batting:
2B: Moerman, Ryan 1 ; Schroeder, Jacob 1
HR: Schroeder, Jacob 1 ; Comia, Branden 1 ; Quagliano, Coltin 1
RBI: Schroeder, Jacob 4 ; Comia, Branden 2 ; Quagliano, Coltin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Westcott, Drake 2 ; Moerman, Ryan 2 ; Schroeder, Jacob 2 ; Comia, Branden 2 ; Quagliano, Coltin 1
HBP: Quagliano, Coltin 1
PO: Doligale, Danny 1
