University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
17-18
St. Thomas
14-17
Minnesota Rallies to Secure Walk-off Win Against St. Thomas
4/23/2024 10:40:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers responded from a 5-0 deficit to win in exciting fashion, rallying to secure a 7-6 walk-off victory in the 11th inning over the St. Thomas Tommies Tuesday night.
Senior Thomas Gross (4-2) got the win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (17-18). The right-hander went two shutout innings without giving up a hit, two walks and striking out four. Freshman Will Whelan also pitched well, going 3.1 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking two and striking out two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers scored in six different innings on the way to victory. Weber Neels started the comeback with a two-out RBI double that scored Jack Spanier. Minnesota put two more on the board in the fourth inning on a two RBI single by Spanier. The 'U' got one run in each of the next three innings on RBI knocks by Josh Fitzgerald, Neels and Charlie Sutherland to tie the game.
After leaving runners stranded in the eighth and 10th innings, Drew Berkland led off the 11th with a pinch-hit triple. Jake Larson then reached base after taking a pitch to the face to put two runners on for Brady Counsell. With the defense shading in, Counsell looped a base knock to right field that scored Berkland and ended the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» The Minnesota pitching staff combined to strike out 13 St. Thomas hitters.
» Four Golden Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Minnesota pitchers limited St. Thomas (MN) to just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.
» The Gophers are now 3-1 in extra inning games.
» The game marks Minnesota's first walk-off victory since May 19, 2023.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gross, Thomas (4-2)
L: Bryce Leedle (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Matthew Maulik 1
HR: Brigs Richartz 1
RBI: Matthew Maulik 1 ; Joe Roder 1 ; Brigs Richartz 2 ; Joe Vos 1
SH: Max Moris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ben Vujovich 2 ; Max Moris 1 ; Joe Roder 2 ; Brigs Richartz 1
HBP: Ben Vujovich 1 ; Brigs Richartz 2 ; Zan Von Schlegell 1
PO: Ben Vujovich 1
Batting:
2B: Neels, Weber 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1
3B: Berkland, Drew 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Neels, Weber 2 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Spanier, Jack 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Jurgella, Brady 1 ; Berkland, Drew 1 ; Spanier, Jack 1
SB: Fitzgerald, Josh 1
HBP: Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Larson, Jake 1
