University of Minnesota Athletics
2016 Baseball Roster
Mezzenga, Ben
Jersey Number 1
Ben Mezzenga
- Class:
- Freshman
- Position:
- OF
- Hometown:
- Shoreview, Minn.
- High School:
- Totino-Grace
Bio
2019 | SENIOR Played in 48 games including 47 starts · slashed .286/.390/.323 with seven doubles, 11 RBIs, and 28 runs scored · stole a team-high 13 bases · Academic All-Big Ten Selection. Game Highlights: Stole two bases and drove in two runs at Dallas Baptist on Feb. 23 · went 5-for-11 with two RBIs and one double in a three-game series at N.C. State on March 2-3 · collected three hits including a double with two RBIs and one double vs. Washington on March 10 to start a five-game hitting streak through March 17 · went 3-for-4 and scored three runs at Penn State on March 24 · stole two bases and scored a pair of runs, drawing three walks vs. Augsburg on March 27 · reached base in 11 consecutive games from April 19 through May 22 · finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double, and a run scored vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on May 26.
2018 | JUNIOR ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team · All-Big Ten Second Team · Academic All-Big Ten · played in all 59 games including 50 starts · finished second on the team with a .383 batting average while leading the team with a .466 on-base percentage. Highlights: Went 2-for-3 wsith a pair of walks at Kennesaw State on Feb. 17 · ripped two doubles on a 3-for-5 day against Creighton, driving in two runs and scored twice · scored three runs while going 2-for-4 with three walks at Purdue on April 13 · finished the season with a 32-game streak of reaching base and a team-high 13-game hitting streak · went 8-for-20 in the NCAA Tournament, hitting a triple against No. 19 UCLA on June 2.
2017 | SOPHOMORE Received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award • recorded a .296 batting average in 50 games • had a .415 on-base percentage after drawing 21 walks and 32 hits • batted .371 in conference play with 13 hits while scoring 10 runs • Academic All-Big Ten. Game Highlights: Recorded one hit, two walks, one run scored and one stolen base at UC Irvine (2/18) • was 1-3 with one RBI and one run scored vs Seattle U (2/24) • was 1-4 with one RBI and two walks vs Oral Roberts (3/3) • drove in two runs on two hits vs Iowa (3/5) • drew three walks and scored one run vs Milwaukee (3/8) • reached base with two hits and one walk vs NDSU (4/4) while scoring three runs and stealing one base • was 2-3 with one double and one run scored vs Nebraska (4/21) • recorded two hits including a triple along with one RBI and two runs scored at Penn State (5/6) • was 2-3 with one walk and three runs scored at Penn State (5/7) • drove in two RBIs on one hit vs Purdue (5/18) • had two RBIs in a pinch hitting appearance vs Indiana (5/26) in the Big Ten Tournament • was 3-6 with one stolen base and scored two runs vs Iowa (5/27) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
2016 SUMMER BASEBALL Played in 34 games for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League • had a .321 batting average along with two home runs, 16 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 22 stolen bases • was named to the Northwoods League All-Star Team.
2016 | FRESHMAN Made 23 appearances as an outfield and a pinch-runner • picked up three hits and had an RBI • was a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases. Game Highlights: Made career debut as a defensive replacement in the outfield versus Utah Valley (2/20) • started and went 1-for-3 with two runs, two walks and a pair of stolen bases against Utah (2/21) • pinch-ran and scored a run at Campbell (2/28) • earned start in outfield at Georgia State (3/4) • appeared in two pinch-hit opportunities and notched two singles and an RBI at Seattle U (3/12-3/16) • started in center field at Utah Valley (3/19) • scored runs and saw time in center field versus Saint Mary's (3/30) and Northern Illinois (4/6) • came on as a pinch-runner against Maryland (4/16) • drew a walk, scored a run and saw action in the outfield against North Dakota State (4/19) • pinch-ran and scored in non-conference home win versus Kansas (5/3) • appeared in the outfield in NCAA Regional action against Binghamton (6/4) and Wake Forest (6/5).
HIGH SCHOOL Graduated from Totino-Grace High School in 2015 • maintained a .508 average at the dish during senior campaign • had a .539 batting average and 17 stolen bases during his junior season with the Eagles • received All-Northwest Suburban recognition • excelled with the Tri-City Legion team during the summer • in 34 games in 2014, he batted .550 and stole 32 bases on the way to being named district MVP • previously received Legion all-district honors after his freshman year • on the football field, he scored four touchdowns to help the Eagles advance to the 2014 Prep Bowl • earned all-state, all-metro and all-conference acclaim last year and was named the conference’s special teams MVP • honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society.
PERSONAL Son of Tony and Rainie Mezzenga • has three siblings: Gabe, Luke and Isaac • older brother Gabe was a member of the Gopher football team • lists playing in the Minnesota State All-Star Game with the best players in the state as his greatest sports thrill.
2018 | JUNIOR ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team · All-Big Ten Second Team · Academic All-Big Ten · played in all 59 games including 50 starts · finished second on the team with a .383 batting average while leading the team with a .466 on-base percentage. Highlights: Went 2-for-3 wsith a pair of walks at Kennesaw State on Feb. 17 · ripped two doubles on a 3-for-5 day against Creighton, driving in two runs and scored twice · scored three runs while going 2-for-4 with three walks at Purdue on April 13 · finished the season with a 32-game streak of reaching base and a team-high 13-game hitting streak · went 8-for-20 in the NCAA Tournament, hitting a triple against No. 19 UCLA on June 2.
2017 | SOPHOMORE Received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award • recorded a .296 batting average in 50 games • had a .415 on-base percentage after drawing 21 walks and 32 hits • batted .371 in conference play with 13 hits while scoring 10 runs • Academic All-Big Ten. Game Highlights: Recorded one hit, two walks, one run scored and one stolen base at UC Irvine (2/18) • was 1-3 with one RBI and one run scored vs Seattle U (2/24) • was 1-4 with one RBI and two walks vs Oral Roberts (3/3) • drove in two runs on two hits vs Iowa (3/5) • drew three walks and scored one run vs Milwaukee (3/8) • reached base with two hits and one walk vs NDSU (4/4) while scoring three runs and stealing one base • was 2-3 with one double and one run scored vs Nebraska (4/21) • recorded two hits including a triple along with one RBI and two runs scored at Penn State (5/6) • was 2-3 with one walk and three runs scored at Penn State (5/7) • drove in two RBIs on one hit vs Purdue (5/18) • had two RBIs in a pinch hitting appearance vs Indiana (5/26) in the Big Ten Tournament • was 3-6 with one stolen base and scored two runs vs Iowa (5/27) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
2016 SUMMER BASEBALL Played in 34 games for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League • had a .321 batting average along with two home runs, 16 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 22 stolen bases • was named to the Northwoods League All-Star Team.
2016 | FRESHMAN Made 23 appearances as an outfield and a pinch-runner • picked up three hits and had an RBI • was a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases. Game Highlights: Made career debut as a defensive replacement in the outfield versus Utah Valley (2/20) • started and went 1-for-3 with two runs, two walks and a pair of stolen bases against Utah (2/21) • pinch-ran and scored a run at Campbell (2/28) • earned start in outfield at Georgia State (3/4) • appeared in two pinch-hit opportunities and notched two singles and an RBI at Seattle U (3/12-3/16) • started in center field at Utah Valley (3/19) • scored runs and saw time in center field versus Saint Mary's (3/30) and Northern Illinois (4/6) • came on as a pinch-runner against Maryland (4/16) • drew a walk, scored a run and saw action in the outfield against North Dakota State (4/19) • pinch-ran and scored in non-conference home win versus Kansas (5/3) • appeared in the outfield in NCAA Regional action against Binghamton (6/4) and Wake Forest (6/5).
HIGH SCHOOL Graduated from Totino-Grace High School in 2015 • maintained a .508 average at the dish during senior campaign • had a .539 batting average and 17 stolen bases during his junior season with the Eagles • received All-Northwest Suburban recognition • excelled with the Tri-City Legion team during the summer • in 34 games in 2014, he batted .550 and stole 32 bases on the way to being named district MVP • previously received Legion all-district honors after his freshman year • on the football field, he scored four touchdowns to help the Eagles advance to the 2014 Prep Bowl • earned all-state, all-metro and all-conference acclaim last year and was named the conference’s special teams MVP • honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society.
PERSONAL Son of Tony and Rainie Mezzenga • has three siblings: Gabe, Luke and Isaac • older brother Gabe was a member of the Gopher football team • lists playing in the Minnesota State All-Star Game with the best players in the state as his greatest sports thrill.
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15
Gopher Baseball Senior Salute
Monday, May 12
