University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
15-16
South Dakota State
15-19
Gophers Punch Out 16 in Win Over Jackrabbits
4/17/2024 8:33:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Three Minnesota pitchers totaled 16 strikeouts to help propel the Golden Gophers past the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, 11-1, on Wednesday evening at Siebert Field.
Freshman Sam Kennedy (2-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (15-16). The right-hander went three shutout innings, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out seven. Tucker Novotny started the ballgame and went three shutout innings while allowing three hits, walking one and striking out six. Caden Capomaccio finished the game with three more strikeouts to secure the victory.
Brady Counsell's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-4 day, and included two doubles and three RBI. Jake Perry made his contribution with a double, a home run, a walk and three RBI, part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Junior Josh Fitzgerald also chipped in for the Gophers, putting together one hit in two trips to the plate while adding two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Minnesota scored in the first inning for the 13th time this season with runs coming on a sacrifice fly by Fitzgerald and an RBI single from Kris Hokenson.
The 'U' held the Jackrabbits scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Minnesota pushed across a run on Counsell's one-out RBI double, which brought the lead to 3-0.
The Golden Gophers bats heated up in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs, sparked by a two-run home run from Perry. Fitzgerald, Jack Taxdahl and Counsell drove in four more runs before Perry came up to the plate with runners on for the second time in the inning. He slugged an RBI ground-rule double to make it 10-0, Minnesota. Weber Neels followed with another RBI single to put the Gophers up 11-0.
South Dakota State would push one run across to avoid the shut out, but the Gophers coasted to the 11-1 run-rule victory.
GAME NOTES
» Kennedy struck out seven Jackrabbits hitters and Novotny fanned six for the Golden Gophers.
» The Golden Gophers had both Perry and Counsell smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Just five outs that the Gophers recorded came from something other than a strikeout.
» Minnesota scored eight runs in the fifth inning, the second time this season they have put up that number in one inning.
» Counsell stole two bases in Wednesday's game.
» For the fifth time this season, Jake Perry drove in three or more runs.
» Minnesota pitchers limited South Dakota State to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kennedy, Sam (2-0)
L: Will Kent (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Jordan Sagedahl 1 ; Cael Frost 1
3B: Reece Anderson 1
RBI: Cael Frost 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cohen Henry 1
CS: Jess Bellows 1
HBP: Dawson Parry 1 ; Luke Luskey 1
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 2 ; Perry, Jake 1
HR: Perry, Jake 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 3 ; Perry, Jake 3 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 2 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Taxdahl, Jack 1
SF: Fitzgerald, Josh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 2 ; Perry, Jake 2 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Taxdahl, Jack 1 ; Spanier, Jack 2
SB: Counsell, Brady 2 ; Spanier, Jack 1
