University of Minnesota Athletics
GOLDEN GOPHERS SWEEP DOUBLEHEADER FROM SPARTANS 16-2, 7-5
4/29/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In the first game, the Golden Gophers scored runs in every inning except the fifth and seventh and cruised to a 16-2 win over the Spartans. Lead off batter shortstop Rick Brosseau and designated hitter Luke Appert combined to go 6-for-9 with seven RBIs while pitchers Ben Birk and Nick McCauley limited the Spartans to just two runs on two hits.
Minnesota got on the board first in the top of the first inning when Rick Brosseau scored on Luke Appert's single to centerfield. On the play Michigan State centerfielder Bob Malek misplayed the ball allowing Brosseau to score.
The Gophers pushed the lead to 4-0 in the top of the second inning. Lead-off batter Jason Kennedy was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a throw that got away from Spartan first baseman Kyle Geswein. Kennedy advanced to third on a sharp hit ball by Jeremy Negen that third baseman Troy Bergman couldn't handle. Rick Brosseau followed with a single to right field scoring Kennedy. Luke Appert then hit a double to the gap in right centerfield that scored both Brosseau and Negen.
Minnesota blew open the game with seven runs in the top of the third inning as the Golden Gophers sent 11 batters to the plate. Jeremy Negen hit a two-run single scoring Scott Howard and Mark Devore. Back-to-back doubles by Rick Brosseau and Luke Appert gave Minnesota a 10-0 lead. Appert would advance to third on a balk by pitcher J.J. Frass and scored on a Jack Hannahan sacrifice fly to give Minnesota an 11-0 lead.
After the Spartans got one run back in the bottom of the third, Jason Kennedy hit a lead-off home run in the top of the fourth inning, his sixth home run of the season. In the top of the sixth inning, the Golden Gophers added four more runs. Michigan State relief pitcher J.J. Frass plunked pinch hitter David Roach and Scott Howard, Jason Kennedy doubled off the left field wall scoring Roach from second and advancing Howard to third. Scott Welch then doubled to the gap in left centerfield scoring Howard and Kennedy. Pinch hitter Chris Guetzlaff then singled to right advancing Welch to third. Welch would later score on a fielder's choice for the final Minnesota run.
Minnesota starter Ben Birk and reliever Nick McCauley combined to allow just two Spartan hits on the day. Birk earned the win, his third of the season, allowing one unearned run on one hit walking one and striking out two. McCauley earned his first collegiate save pitching the final three innings. He allowed one run on on hit and retired the last seven batters he faced. Michigan State starter Jon Huizinga lasted just 2 1/3 innings and got touched for 11 runs, six unearned, nine hits. He took the loss to drop his record to 3-5.
In game two, Minnesota built a 7-1 lead going into the seventh inning and held on to defeat the Spartans by a score of 7-5 after Michigan State came up with four runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Minnesota got on the board in the top of the third when Rick Brosseau scored from third on an infield hit by Josh Holthaus. Brosseau led off the inning with a walk and advance to third on two stolen bases. The Gophers increased that lead to 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning as Minnesota put together five hits to score four runs. Josh Holthaus had an RBI single that scored Scott Howard. Jack Hannahan hit a double off the wall in right field that scored Jason Kennedy. Chris Guetzlaff's sacrifice fly scored Holthaus from third and Rob LaRue's single to right scored Hannahan to finish the four-run inning for the Gophers.
Minnesota added two more runs in the top of the sixth inning when Rick Brosseau smacked his third home run of the year, a two-run shot to right field, which made the score 7-0.
Gopher starting pitcher Kelly Werner cruised through the first six innings allowing just one run on three hits. Werner ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh after giving up back-to-back walks to give the Spartans life. Vince Gangl, after giving up three runs on three hits, held on though getting Ted Demetral to ground out to end the game. Werner's record increased to 6-4 while Michigan State starter Gary Zsigo's record fell to 1-4.
The two teams will play the finale of the four-game series Sunday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
Game One 123 456 7 R H E Minnesota 137 104 0 16 14 1 Michigan State 001 010 0 2 2 4 UM-Birk, McCauley (4) and Negen and Beaulieu. MSU-Huizinga, Frass (3), Bates (6) and Burrill and Court. WP - Birk (3-2) LP - Huizinga (3-5). Save: McCauley (1). HR - UM: Kennedy (7). LOB: UM: 7. MSU: 4. T: 2:22. A: 286. Game Two 123 456 7 R H E Minnesota 001 042 0 7 12 0 Michigan State 000 001 4 5 6 1 UM-Werner, V. Gangl (7) and Negen. MSU-Zsigo, Salling (6), Geswein (7) and Court. WP - Werner (6-4) LP - Zsigo (1-4). HR - UM: Brosseau (3), MSU: McCuiston (3). LOB: UM: 10. MSU: 3. T: 2:27. A: 286.
