University of Minnesota Athletics

GOLDEN GOPHERS DEFEAT ILLINOIS 7-3 AT SIEBERT FIELD

5/2/1999 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Chadd Clarey earned the complete-game victory after holding the Illini scoreless over the final six innings. The second-place Golden Gophers improve to 34- 12 overall and 15-5 in the Big Ten, four games behind Ohio State.

Illinois jumped ahead 3-1 after three innings with two runs in the first and one in the third. Minnesota scored in the first inning on a RBI double from senior Robb Quinlan. Quinlan finished the game 2-for-5 with two doubles and a RBI.

The Golden Gophers pulled even with a run in the fourth and a run in the sixth. Redshirt freshman Scott Howard drove in a run in the fourth on a ground out to first. In the sixth with junior Mike Arlt at second, Illinois shortstop Jon Anderson's throwing error on a ground ball from redshirt freshman Jason Kennedy. Arlt scored on the play and tied the game at three.

Minnesota blew it open in the seventh inning with four runs. After junior Matt Scanlon singled and advanced to third on a double from Quinlan, Illinois reliever Andy Dickinson's wild pitch brought Scanlon home and put Minnesota in the lead 4-3. Pinch hitter Josh Holthaus then delivered a RBI double to left field. Rick Brosseau drove in a run with a single and Kennedy closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly. In the ninth, Illinois had runners on first and second with one out, but second baseman Chris Basak flied out to right and Dan O'Neill fouled out to left fielder Scott Howard to end the ball game.

Clarey (5-1) picked up his first complete-game of the season. He allowed three runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks. The nine-inning outing was the longest by any Golden Gopher this season. Illinois starter Bob Burlage (3-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked four.

Minnesota hosts St. Thomas on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., before hosting Northwestern this weekend at Siebert Field.

Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Northeastern
Wednesday, February 25
Sights & Sounds: Spring Training
Sunday, February 22
Postgame Rouser: Gophers-Twins
Saturday, February 21
In the Cage: Michael Lippe
Tuesday, February 17