University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER BASEBALL SWEEPS DOUBLEHEADER FROM HAWKEYES 2-1, 13-1
4/22/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In the first game, Jack Hannahan provided all the offense Minnesota would need as the sophomore third baseman went 1-for-2 from the plate, including his fourth home run of the season, and added two RBIs. In the first inning, Hannahan hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Scott Howard from third giving Minnesota an early 1-0 lead. Then with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and the Golden Gophers clinging to the 1-0 lead, Hannahan smacked Hawkeye pitcher Chad Blackwell's offering over the left field wall to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead.
Minnesota starting pitcher Ben Birk (2-2) pitched the first four innings of the game, yielding only one run on four hits. The lefthander struck out two and did not walk a batter to earn his second victory of the season. Brandon Kitzerow relieved Birk in the fifth inning and also scattered four hits over the final three innings to pick up his team-high sixth save of the year. Iowa pitcher Chad Blackwell (3-7), who only gave up only four hits on the day, went the distance for the Hawkeyes and took the loss.
In the second game, Minnesota's bats came alive as they pounded out a season-high 18 hits en route to the 13-1 win. Jack Hannahan was again the catalyst for the Minnesota offense as he went 4-for-4 from the plate, including two doubles and two RBIs. The bottom of the order also came through for Minnesota as they went a combined 7-for-11 with three RBIs and five runs scored.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, the Golden Gophers struck for five runs on six hits. Hannahan's single to center field scored Luke Appert and Scott Howard to give Minnesota a 6-1 lead. The Maroon and Gold struck for six more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, three runs coming on a Rob LaRue pinch-hit three run home run to left field, his second home run of the season and his first career home run in Big Ten play.
Minnesota starting pitcher Kelly Werner (5-4) pitched six innings, scattering five hits, to pick up his fifth win of the season. Werner got some outstanding defensive help behind him throughout the game. Mark Devore made spectacular play in the top of the third inning, as he made a backhand stab at a sharp hit ball up to middle, then flipped to shortstop Rick Brosseau, who threw to Josh Holthaus at first, to turn the double play. That play was just one of many solid defensive efforts made by Devore on the day.
The Golden Gophers and Hawkeyes will play the finale of the four-game series at Siebert Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Game One 123 456 7 R H E Iowa 000 010 0 1 8 1 Minnesota 100 100 x 2 4 1 UM-Birk, Kitzerow (5) and Negen. IU-Blackwell and Husz. WP - Birk (2-2) LP - Blackwell (3-7). SV: Kitzerow (6) HR - UM: Hannahan (4). LOB: UM: 3. IU: 5. T: 1:50. A: 1,305. Game Two 123 456 7 R H E Iowa 100 000 0 1 5 1 Minnesota 150 061 x 13 18 1 UM-Werner, McCauley (7) and Negen and Beaulieu. IU-Hasz, Price (2), Goldstein (5) and Husz. WP - Werner (5-4) LP - Hasz (0-6). HR - UM: LaRue (2). LOB: UM: 5. IU: 6. T: 1:50. A: 1,305.
