University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
8-22, 0
Purdue
14-16, 0
Minnesota's Offense Erupts in 9-3 win against Purdue
4/9/2023 4:12:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers scored eight runs in the first and second innings
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota received contributions from every part of their lineup, getting eight runs in the first two innings to help knock off the Purdue Boilermakers, 9-3, on Sunday afternoon.
Senior Richie Holetz (2-2) got the win for Minnesota (8-22, 3-3 Big Ten), his second straight victory. The right-hander went 6.1 innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on five hits, allowing three walks and striking out seven. Sophomore Connor Wietgrefe also pitched well, going 2.2 shutout innings while allowing one hit, walking none and striking out four to close the game.
Offensively, the Golden Gophers were led by sophomore Ike Mezzenga, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a bases clearing double to jump start the offense in the first inning. Junior Brett Bateman compiled a noteworthy performance, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI. Junior Boston Merila also chipped in, putting together two hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers were trailing 1-0 in the first inning when they responded with a six run first inning. After Bateman, Jake Perry and Brady Counsell singled to load the bases, a three-run double off the bat of Mezzenga got the scoring going. A sacrifice fly from Weber Neels, a Kris Hokenson RBI single and an RBI double from Bateman put the 'U' up 6-1 after one.
The Golden Gophers then held the Boilermakers scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Minnesota pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Merila that brought home sophomore Brady Counsell and Mezzenga, bringing the score to 8-1 in favor of the Golden Gophers.
Purdue got a solo home run in the fourth and an RBI single in the seventh, but would get no closer than 8-3. A Jake Perry sacrifice fly made it 9-3 in the eighth, which would be the final score.
GAME NOTES
» Bateman had three hits in the game to lead all Minnesota Golden Gophers. That was his team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season.
» Holetz struck out seven Boilermakers hitters to pick up his second consecutive Big Ten win.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed six runs across.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Boilermakers at a 12-6 clip.
» Minnesota went 5-for-11 (.455) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Purdue to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 36 Purdue hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out 11.
» Purdue was led offensively by senior Jake Parr, who went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.
» Junior Davis Pratt led the Boilermakers pitching staff, throwing 4.2 innings of two-run ball.
» Purdue starter Kyle Iwinski (2-2) lasted just 0.2 innings, giving up six hits and eight runs before leaving.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (8-22, 3-3 Big Ten) hosts North Dakota State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before Iowa comes to town for a weekend series at Siebert Field. All games will be on B1G+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Holetz, Richie (2-2)
L: IWINSKI, Kyle (2-2)
Batting:
2B: CASKENETTE, Connor 1 ; STEVENS, Jo 2
HR: PARR, Jake 1
RBI: TOETZ, Paul 1 ; PARR, Jake 1 ; CORNBLUM, Couper 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BOLTON Jr., Mike 1 ; PARR, Jake 1 ; STEVENS, Jo 1
SB: BOLTON Jr., Mike 2
Batting:
2B: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Swenson, Riley 1
RBI: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 3 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Merila, Boston 2 ; Hokenson, Kris 1
SH: Neels, Weber 1
SF: Perry, Jake 1 ; Neels, Weber 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Counsell, Brady 2 ; Mezzenga, Ike 2 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Swenson, Riley 2
SB: Mezzenga, Ike 1
HBP: Hokenson, Kris 1
