University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
5-6
Gonzaga
2-9
Minnesota Falls to Gonzaga 7-3 in Series Opener
3/7/2024 8:05:00 PM | Baseball
SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers struggled to put men on base on Thursday, falling to the Gonzaga Bulldogs, 7-3, despite hitting two home runs for the fifth straight game.
Junior Tucker Novotny (0-2) got the ball to start for Minnesota (5-6) and took the loss. Freshman Tyler Hemmesch threw three scoreless innings of relief, allowing no hits, with no walks and three strikeouts.
Three Gophers combined for Minnesota's four hits on the day. Junior Ike Mezzenga went 2-4 with two singles. Sophomore Kris Hokenson and freshman Charlie Sutherland tallied the other two hits for the 'U', both of which were home runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 5-0, the Gophers first put runs on the board in the fifth inning with Hokenson's solo home run to right field, his third long ball in the last four games.
The Bulldogs expanded their lead to 7-1 before the 'U' cut into that lead in the eighth with a pinch-hit two-run homer by Sutherland. The Golden Gophers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Sutherland's pinch hit home run was the first homer of his career.
» Mezzenga extended his on-base streak, reaching safely in all 11 games for Minnesota.
» Hokenson's home run was his third in the past four games, already surpassing his total homers last season.
» With two more home runs today, the 'U' has now hit 11 long balls in the past five games.
» Cunneely led the Bulldogs pitching staff, throwing seven innings of three-run ball with seven strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Gophers look to bounce back against the Bulldogs in game two on Friday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. CT and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Michael Cunneely (1-1)
L: Novotny, Tucker (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1
RBI: Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1
Batting:
2B: Tommy Eisenstat 1 ; Gage Mestas 1
HR: Tommy Eisenstat 1
RBI: Jordan Hamberg 1 ; Josh Hankins 1 ; Tommy Eisenstat 4 ; Gage Mestas 1
SH: Peyton Miller 1 ; Josh Hankins 1
SF: Jordan Hamberg 1 ; Josh Hankins 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sam Stem 1 ; Donovan Ratfield 2 ; Jace Phelan 1 ; Tommy Eisenstat 2 ; Gage Mestas 1
HBP: Peyton Miller 1 ; Jace Phelan 1
