University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
19-19, 5-9
Penn State
20-18, 7-10
Wietgrefe Punches Out Seven En Route to Victory Over Penn State
4/27/2024 4:34:00 PM | Baseball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Junior Connor Wietgrefe recorded seven strikeouts in five innings of work in the Minnesota Golden Gophers 5-4 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday.
In addition to his seven strikeouts, Wietgrefe (6-2) went five innings, giving up one run on three hits and walking two for Minnesota (19-19, 5-9). Senior Justin Thorsteinson also made an impact on the mound for the Gophers, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit, with one walk and one strikeout.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the 'U' plated three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead. Fitzgerald got the Gophers on the board with an RBI single that scored Weber Neels. Two batters later, Sam Hunt hit a sacrifice fly to take the lead before Jack Spanier got an RBI single to extend the lead 3-1.
The Nittany Lions failed to push any runs across before the Gophers built on their lead in the eighth inning. Minnesota picked up two runs when a single from Hunt scored Fitzgerald and Kris Hokenson, which brought the score to 5-1 in favor of the Golden Gophers. Penn State put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Minnesota still held on for the 5-4 win.
GAME NOTES
» Wietgrefe struck out seven Nittany Lions hitters, the fifth time this season he's struck out seven or more.
» Eight Minnesota batters recorded hits in the game.
» Brady Counsell reached base safely for the 13th straight game.
» Hunt led the 'U' at the plate, going 1-for-3 with three RBI.
» The Gophers now won their most games in a season since 2019.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wietgrefe, Connor (6-2)
L: Henline, Jaden (3-2)
Batting:
2B: Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1
RBI: Fitzgerald, Josh 1 ; Hunt, Sam 3 ; Spanier, Jack 1
SF: Hunt, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Neels, Weber 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 2 ; Hokenson, Kris 2
SB: Sutherland, Charlie 1
Batting:
HR: Norris, Grant 1
RBI: Jaconski, Joe 1 ; Marr, J.T. 2 ; Norris, Grant 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jaconski, Joe 1 ; Norris, Grant 1 ; Kelley, Tayven 1 ; Hannon, Kyle 1
SB: Molinaro, Bryce 1
HBP: Marsh, Bobby 1
