University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHERS TO MEET ILLINOIS IN BIG TEN BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
5/18/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Golden Gophers have finished in the top two in the final Big Ten standings for the eighth time in the '90s.
Minnesota will face Illinois (33-20, 15-12) at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The Field: Regular season champion Ohio State, Minnesota, Michigan and Illinois comprise this year's tournament field. Between the four, the quartet has captured 17 of the 18 tournament championships. The Wolverines lead the way with six titles, while Minnesota has captured five. Ohio State and Illinois have four and two, respectively. Indiana defeated Illinois in 1996 for its only tournament championship.
The four teams have made the same tournament twice before in 1982 and '85. The Golden Gophers were victorious in both with a combined 7-1 record. In '82 at Illinois, Minnesota avenged a first-round loss to Ohio State with two wins in the championship round. In '85 at Michigan, the Golden Gophers swept through the tournament with a win over Michigan and two wins over Ohio State. The Wolverines entered the weekend with a 51-6 record and a number three national ranking.
The Tournament at Ohio State: This is the fourth time the Buckeyes have hosted the event. In 1991, Ohio State swept the field including two wins over the Golden Gophers. The following year, the host Buckeyes went winless and Minnesota defeated Michigan State 11-5 in the championship. In '95, Ohio State rebounded from a first-round loss with three wins including two in the championship round over Minnesota. The Golden Gophers have an overall record of 7-4 in tournament games played in Columbus and have reached the championship round each time.
Minnesota vs. the Tournament Field: The Golden Gophers and the Buckeyes have met a total of 15 times in the Big Ten Tournament with Ohio State holding a slim 8-7 advantage. The two teams have met six times in the championship round of the tournament. Michigan leads the series with Minnesota 7-4. The Golden Gophers have a 4-1 edge against Illinois, including a 9-8 victory in last year's championship game.
In the Rankings: Minnesota dropped out of the Collegiate Baseball rankings, but moved up two spots to #23 in the USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches' poll.
Welcome Back: Minnesota is making its 16th trip to the Big Ten Tournament, the most of any conference school. The Golden Gophers have also had the most tournament MVPs (seven) and all-tournament selections (50). Minnesota has failed to win at least one game in the tournament in just two years, 1987 and '90. The Golden Gophers have reached the championship round in 10 of its 15 appearances. Minnesota is 10-5 in first round games.
The Series vs. Illinois: Minnesota leads the all-time series with the Fighting Illini 83-79-1. The first meeting in the series occurred in 1900 with host Illinois prevailing 8-3. The Illini captured 19 of the first 20 games in the series. Illinois' longest win streak in the series is 13 games from 1908-43. Minnesota's longest win streak in the series is 11 games from 1965-71. Head Coach John Anderson has a 39- 33 record against Illinois in his career.
The Series vs. Michigan: Michigan leads the all- time series with the Golden Gophers 68-58. The first meeting in the series occurred in 1893 with the host Wolverines prevailing 27-7. The two teams did not meet again until 1922. Michigan has won 10 of the last 15 games in the series. The Wolverines longest win streak in the series is six from 1922-25. Minnesota's longest win streak is eight games from 1992-94. John Anderson has a 28-30 record against Michigan.
The Series vs. Ohio State: Minnesota leads the all-time series with Ohio State 57-50-1. The first meeting in the series occurred in 1923 with the visiting Buckeyes prevailing 3-2 (6/14). Ohio State holds a 25-17 edge in games played in Columbus. The Buckeyes longest win streak in the series is 11 from 1950-58. Minnesota's longest win streak is 12 games from 1973-78. John Anderson has a 17-15-1 career record against Ohio State.
Minnesota Defeats Ohio State 16-12 on Spring Trip: Despite not meeting in the Big Ten season, the Golden Gophers captured a 16-12 victory over Ohio State in the Blue-Gray Classic in Montgomery, Ala., (2/28). The game featured six errors and nine pitchers.
Minnesota jumped all over Buckeye starter Nate Smith for eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits. The Golden Gophers led by as many as eight runs before Ohio State scored five runs in the final three innings.
Redshirt freshman Jon Nuss (Bloomington, Minn.) was 3-for-5 with 5 RBIs, while Robb Quinlan (Maplewood, Minn.) added three hits and four RBIs. Ohio State's Chad Ehrnsberger hit two home runs in the game, but committed three errors at short.
Golden Gophers Split with Michigan: Minnesota dropped the first two games of their Big Ten home-opening series to the Wolverines, before rebounding to capture the final two games (4/16-18).
After losing 8-3 on Friday thanks in part to four errors, Saturday's doubleheader featured 54 runs and 70 hits as each team claimed a one-run victory. Minnesota had the tying run at third in the final inning of the first game, but redshirt freshman Jon Nuss' (Bloomington, Minn.) shot to right field was snared by Michigan's Jason Alcaraz. Minnesota committed a season- high five errors in the 13-12 loss.
In the second game on Saturday, the Golden Gophers rallied from an early 8-0 deficit and defeated Michigan 15-14. Junior Matt Scanlon drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
On Sunday, junior Chadd Clarey (Rochester, Minn.) pitched 7.1 solid innings and the Gopher bats stayed hot in an 11-5 victory. Every starter for Minnesota had at least one hit.
Golden Gophers Take Three from Illinois: Minnesota faced a little adversity in its series with Illinois and responded in impressive fashion. After losing its third straight one-run game, the Golden Gophers rallied for three straight victories against the visiting Illini (4/30 - 5/2).
After a 7-6 loss to Illinois on Friday, senior Brad Pautz (Reedsville, Wis.) nearly no-hit the Big Ten's most potent offense on Saturday. Pautz pitched six no- hit innings before giving up a single and a game-tying home run in the seventh inning. Senior Matt Brosseau (North Oaks, Minn.) drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth with a single.
After a 5-2 win in the doubleheader night cap, junior Chadd Clarey picked up his first complete game of the season in a 7-3 win. After allowing three runs in the first three innings, he held the Fighting Illini scoreless over the final six innings. The nine-inning outing is the longest for any Golden Gopher this season.
Second-seeded Golden Gophers Capture '98 Big Ten Tournament Championship: The Golden Gophers won three straight games at the 1998 Big Ten Tournament in Champaign, Ill. Minnesota opened the tournament with a convincing 10-3 win over Ohio State. The Golden Gophers pounded out 18 hits, including three home runs. Mark Groebner led with the way with a pair of two-run home runs.
In game two, Minnesota broke open a close game with a tournament record-tying 10 runs in the sixth inning in a 14-5 victory against Penn State. Junior Jeremy Negen (Blomkest, Minn.) had two hits in the inning including a three-run home run.
The championship game started well for the Maroon and Gold as they again scored first on a solo home run by Adam Horton (New Ulm, Minn.) in the second inning. Illinois responded with a four-run third inning. The host Illini led 8-5 going into the bottom of the eighth inning. Craig Selander hit a two-run home run in the eighth. In the ninth, the Golden Gophers were down to their last out, but a throwing error allowed the tying run to score. Tournament MVP Groebner followed with a game-winning, bases loaded single to secure a 9-8 victory.
Big Ten Tournament MVPs: Minnesota has had more tournament MVPs than any other school with seven. In addition to Groebner last year, Terry Steinbach ('82), Jon Beckman ('85), Tim McIntosh ('86), Vince Palyan ('88), Scott Bakkum ('92) and Shane Gunderson ('95) have all earned the honor.
Holding Their Own: The Golden Gophers have already played one of the toughest schedules in recent memory. Minnesota has played five teams in the latest Collegiate Baseball top-30 rankings. In those games, the Golden Gophers have a respectable 3-2 record with wins over #7 Wichita State (53-12), #12 Ohio State (46- 10) and #22 South Alabama (36-16). Minnesota dropped a pair of 9-5 decisions to #2 Florida State (46-10) and #21 Auburn (41-14).
The Magic Number: Minnesota has eclipsed the 40- win plateau for the fifth time in the last eight years. It is the sixth time in John Anderson's tenure that his team has reached that mark. The Golden Gophers enter the weekend needing four wins to match last year's school record 45 wins.
Double Your Pleasure: The Golden Gophers have shattered the single-season school record for doubles. Minnesota enters the tournament with 155 two-baggers, 11 more than the '94 squad's mark of 144. Junior Matt Scanlon (Richfield, Minn.) is second in the nation in doubles and set the school's single-season school record with 30 doubles. Senior Robb Quinlan (Maplewood, Minn.) had the record with 29 which he set in 1997 as a sophomore. Quinlan has 24 two-baggers this season. Ironically, it took both players 215 at-bats to reach 29.
Birk Out for the Season: Junior left-hander Ben Birk will be sidelined for the rest of 1999 season while recovering from nerve inflammation in his pitching elbow. He will be on a throwing program for the next six-to-eight weeks and reevaluated following that.
Birk was Baseball America's preseason Big Ten pitcher of the year, as well as the league's top major league prospect. He will apply for a medical redshirt and have two years of eligibility remaining.
Simply the Best: Senior Robb Quinlan now holds seven career school records and five single-season school records. He is the school's hits, home runs, RBIs, doubles, at-bats, runs scored and total bases all-time leader. During his remarkable career, there has always been a new challenge on the horizon for Quinlan. The All-American tied the all-time triples record at Indiana (4/24). Quinlan shares the record of 12 with Bob Keeney ('94-97) and Ryan Lefebvre ('90-93).
It's Going, Going...Finally Gone: Senior Robb Quinlan eclipsed Tom Steinbach's career home run record of 45 with a two-run blast in the fifth inning against Northern Iowa (4/14). While Quinlan needed 59 fewer at- bats to break Ryan Lefebvre's all-time hits record, he needed 167 more at-bats to reach Steinbach's 45. Quinlan averages a home run every 17.0 at-bats. During his career, Steinbach averaged a round-tripper every 13.5 at-bats. Quinlan hit his 51st career home run vs. Northwestern (5/9). He needs just one home run to tie Ohio State's Dan Seimetz ('95-98) who holds the Big Ten's career record with 52.
Number One with a Bullet: A two-time, first-team All- Big Ten selection, Quinlan led the league in home runs, runs scored, total bases, hits and slugging percentage last year. He also established new Big Ten single- season records with 39 runs scored, 92 total bases and 251 putouts in league play.
This year, Quinlan leads the Big Ten with a .416 batting average, 92 hits and 160 total bases in overall games. He is second to teammate Matt Scanlon with 24 doubles and 67 RBIs.
Nothing Average about Q: If Quinlan maintains his .416 batting average, it would rank as the fourth highest ever posted by a Golden Gopher in a season. Current San Diego Padres bullpen coach Mark Merila batted .452 in 1994. Quinlan's .408 mark last year ranks sixth. He is third on the school's all-time list with a .380 career batting average.
Is There More? Senior Robb Quinlan set four new single- season school records last season and holds five single-season records overall.
The Maplewood, Minn., native shattered the school's home run record with 24 bombs in '98. The previous record of 18, held by Jerry Kindall, was set in 1956 and had stood for 42 years. Former Golden Gopher Craig Selander initially broke the record on May 2 at Michigan State. Selander, now in the Minnesota Twins' organization, finished the year with 22 home runs.
With 92 hits already this season, Quinlan has the opportunity to break his own single-season record of 97 hits set last year.
Does He Just Hit? While Robb Quinlan's ability at the plate is remarkable, what may be more impressive is his prowess in the field. In 275 chances in Big Ten play in '98, he did not commit an error. This season, Quinlan has committed just one error in 468 chances.
Big Ten Players of the Week: This season, Minnesota has had a Big Ten Player of the Week five times in seven weeks. Seniors Robb Quinlan and Aron Amundson and junior right-hander Chadd Clarey have each earned the honor once. Junior Matt Scanlon received the award in consecutive weeks after amassing 30 RBIs in a span of 10 games.
The Skinny on Scanny: Junior Matt Scanlon has had another record-breaking season. In addition to breaking Robb Quinlan's single-season record for doubles, Scanlon broke his own Big Ten record with 118 at-bats in league play. Last year, the third-team All-Big Ten selection had 111 at-bats. He is a career .371 batter in Big Ten action.
T.G.I.F.? Minnesota has typically been sluggish in Big Ten series openers played on Fridays. With a 2-4 record, the Golden Gophers batted just .264 with a paltry .384 slugging percentage. Minnesota had a .940 fielding percentage.
In league games played on Saturday and Sunday, the team was 19-3 with a .364 average and .580 slugging percentage. Defensively, the team sported a .966 fielding percentage.
To Leadoff: 15 of Minnesota's 55 home runs on the year have led off an inning. Minnesota has 30 solo home runs overall.
Rocket Science? In Minnesota's 41 victories, the Golden Gophers have a .976 fielding percentage with 36 errors. In the 14 losses, the Golden Gophers have a .934 fielding percentage with 36 errors.
Playing with the Lead: Minnesota has lost only two games this year when leading after five innings. Illinois rallied from a 5-1 deficit to capture a 7-6 victory (4/30). Washington State claims the only other come from behind win (3/5) with a 6-5 win in the Hormel Classic. The Golden Gophers are 34-2 when they have the lead after five innings and 38-0 when having a lead heading into the final inning.
In the Big Ten: In overall games, Minnesota is second in the league with a .334 batting average. The Golden Gopher pitching staff is fourth with a 5.28 ERA, while the Minnesota defense is first with a .965 fielding percentage.
In conference games, Minnesota leads with a .340 average and is second with a 5.10 team ERA. The Golden Gophers are fourth with a .960 fielding percentage.
The .300 Club: Eight of Minnesota's hitters are batting at least .300 this season. Overall, the team's batting average is at .334, down from last year's mark of .342 which tied the school record. Robb Quinlan leads the way at .416. Aron Amundson and Josh Holthaus (Monticello, Minn.) rank second and third with .400 and .381 averages, respectively.
Save Me: The Golden Gopher pitching staff had just two saves last season. This year, the team has a Big Ten- leading 13, two shy of the school's single-season record of 15 set in '93. Junior Frank Wagner (Miles City, Mont.) leads the way with five, while fellow juniors Jason Shupe (Spencer, Wis.) and Vince Gangl (Nashwauk, Minn.) each have three.
Friendly Confines: Over the past seven seasons, the Golden Gophers have experienced tremendous home-field advantage in the friendly confines of Siebert Field. Minnesota has posted a 100-29 mark in the outdoor, on- campus facility since 1993, considered by many to be the finest playing surface in the Big Ten.
Dome Cookin': The Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Twins, is home to the Golden Gophers during February and March. This year, Minnesota posted a 12-3 mark under the roof. Last season, the Golden Gophers were 13-4 in the Metrodome.
Golden Gophers Finish Spring Trip with 4-3 Record: Although playing without three of the team's top four starters, Minnesota made a solid showing on its spring trip to the state of Alabama. The Golden Gophers finished the trek with a 4-3 record.
Seniors Robb Quinlan and Aron Amundson led the way offensively. Quinlan finished with a .500 average with four home runs and nine RBIs. Amundson led the team with a .526 average and added three home runs and seven RBIs.
Minnesota defeated South Alabama 12-5 in the opener with 10 runs in the last two innings, including a three-run home run from Quinlan. In the Coca-Cola Classic, the Golden Gophers were defeated by UAB 13-6, and rebounded with a 15-9 win against Jacksonville.
After a mid-week 9-5 loss at sixth-ranked Auburn, Minnesota finished 2-1 in the Blue-Gray Classic hosted by Troy State. The Golden Gophers defeated the Trojans 7-6, lost to Kentucky 12-8 and beat conference rival Ohio State 16-12.
Golden Gophers Finish 1-2 in Hormel Foods Baseball Classic: Minnesota finished a disappointing 1-2 in the Hormel Foods Baseball Classic at the Metrodome, March 5-7. In the tourney opener against Washington State, the Golden Gophers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, only to see the Cougars rally for a 6-5 victory. After a 9-5 loss against top-ranked Florida State on Saturday, Minnesota salvaged the final game of the weekend with a 5-4 upset of 13th-ranked Wichita State.
Despite the loss, Wichita State captured the tournament title with a 2-1 record. The Seminoles also finished 2-1 but were defeated by the Shockers in the opening game of the tourney by score of 8-1.
Minnesota's Mike Arlt and Aron Amundson were selected to the all-tournament team. Arlt finished the weekend with a .400 average with four hits, four runs scored and a RBI. Amundson earned a spot on the team with his performance against Florida State. He pounded out a career-high four hits with two doubles, a run scored and a RBI.
Preseason Buzz: Minnesota entered the 1999 season ranked 26th in the country by Baseball America and 29th by Collegiate Baseball. The Golden Gophers were the highest-rated Big Ten team in either poll. Illinois was ranked 36th by Baseball America and 30th by Collegiate Baseball.
Senior Robb Quinlan, a second-team All-American last year, is a preseason third-team All-America selection and is Baseball America's choice for preseason Big Ten player of the year. The publication also cites junior left-hander Ben Birk as its preseason Big Ten pitcher of the year, as well as the league's top major league prospect. Senior right-hander Brad Pautz is rated the fourth top prospect.
