University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHERS DOWN SHOCKERS 10-7; FACE NEBRASKA SUNDAY
5/26/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota outhit Wichita State, 12-10, with Rick Brousseau, Luke Appert and Jeremy Negen each contributing three hits for the Gophers. Minnesota starter Mike Kobow pitched eight innings to win his sixth consecutive decision and improve his record to 9-2. Gopher reliever Bob DeWitt pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to pick up his first save of the season. Wichita State starter Brandon Sloan allowed eight runs in 4 2/3 innings and dropped to 10-6 for the season.
The Shockers opened the scoring with an unearned run in the first inning. Dustin Hawkins grounded a single to left field to start the game and stole second base. With two out, Pat Magness grounded a ball to third base that was mishandled by Minnesota's Jack Hannahan, allowing Hawkins to score.
Minnesota answered the Wichita State run with two runs of its own in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Rick Brosseau hit the second pitch he saw off of the scoreboard in right field to tie the game, 1-1. It was Brosseau's fifth home run of the season. Minnesota loaded the bases with two out in the inning, as Hannahan reached on a one-out walk, Luke Appert hit a two-out single to right field and Jason Kennedy was hit by a pitch. Before the first pitch to Mike Arlt, Kennedy stole second base and Hannahan stole home before Appert was retired in a rundown between second and third to end the inning.
Wichita State took the lead with two unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Hawkins walked to lead off the inning, and Blake Blasi reached on a fielding error by Gopher first baseman Josh Holthaus, advancing Hawkins to second base. Koyie Hill sacrificed the runners to second and third, and Magness grounded out to shortstop to score Hawkins with the tying run. Brian Burgamy fouled off five two-strike pitches before delivering a run-scoring single to center field, sending Blasi home to give Wichita State a 3-2 lead.
Minnesota came back with three runs in the bottom of the third inning and retook a 5-3 lead. Hannahan drew his second walk of the game and Holthaus singled to left field. Luke Appert hit the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a three-run home run, his ninth of the season.
The Gophers extended their lead to 8-3 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two out, Arlt walked, Jeremy Negen singled to right-center and Mark Devore walked to load the bases. Brosseau walked to force in Arlt with a run. Wichita State replaced Sloan with Mark Dennison, but Dennison walked Scott Howard and Hannahan to force in two more runs. Dennison struck out Holthaus to end the inning.
Wichita State trimmed the Minnesota lead to 8-6 with three runs in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Blasi doubled in the right-center field alley. Hill singled to left field, advancing Blasi to third base. Magness walked, but ball four was a wild pitch by Kobow, allowing Blasi to score. Burgamy followed with a single to left, loading the bases. Eric Absher was hit by a pitch, forcing in Hill with the second run. Brad Wright grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Magness from third base.
Minnesota responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 10-6 lead. Devore and Brosseau hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. After a strikeout, Hannehan walked for the fourth time to load the bases. Holthaus drove in two runs with a single, scoring Devore and Brosseau.
Wichita State trimmed the lead to 10-7 with a run in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Hawkins singled to left field. Hill stroked a two-out double into the right-field corner, scoring Hawkins from second base.
