University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
7-7
St. Olaf College
4-5
Gophers Win Home Opener 5-1 Over St. Olaf
3/13/2024 5:59:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Minnesota baseball team got a 5-1 win in their home opener on Wednesday afternoon at Siebert Field.
Four Minnesota pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts in the victory.
Freshman Will Whelan (1-0) picked up his first career win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (7-7). The left-hander went two innings, giving up one run on two hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. Freshman Nick Argento started the ballgame and went three shutout innings while allowing three hits, walking none and striking out three.
At the plate, the Gophers were led by junior Ike Mezzenga who tallied one hit in three trips to the plate with two RBIs. Senior Boston Merila went 1-for-2 on the day with three walks and an RBI. Sophomore Weber Neels put together one hit in four at bats with one RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring in the bottom of the first inning. After back-to-back walks to start the game, Neels drove in one run with an RBI single. After Fitzgerald got hit by a pitch, Mezzenga drove in two with an RBI single.
The Oles then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 3-1 until the Gophers expanded their advantage in the eighth. Minnesota managed to push across two runs in the inning, which brought the score to 5-1 in favor of Minnesota.
GAME NOTES
» Nick Argento made his debut on the mound, going three scoreless.
» The Minnesota pitching staff combined to strike out 12 St. Olaf hitters.
» Minnesota took a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Counsell stole two bases in Wednesday's game.
» Minnesota pitchers limited St. Olaf to just 1-for-6 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» The Golden Gophers drew eight walks from St. Olaf pitching.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Whelan, Will (1-0)
L: Jacob Fickenscher (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Mason Buck 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Breckin Hadley 1
SB: Breckin Hadley 1
CS: Evan Hammonds 1
HBP: Evan Hammonds 1
Batting:
RBI: Merila, Boston 1 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 2 ; Spanier, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Jurgella, Brady 1
SB: Counsell, Brady 2 ; Perry, Jake 1
HBP: Fitzgerald, Josh 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1
