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University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA BASEBALL DOWNS BUTLER 11-5
3/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The first four innings were a steady pitcher's duel between Woodrow and Brooklyn Park, Minn. native Pat Neshek of Butler. The two pitchers surrendered seven hits between them, and allowed just one runner to reach third base. Minnesota broke open the scoreless tie with five runs in the top half of the fifth inning. Sophomore Scott Welch and junior Jason Kennedy hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Steidl and Appert followed each other up with two-RBI extra-base hits. Steidl hit a two-run double down the right field line, and Appert roped a two-run triple - his third of the year - into the right-center field gap.
Butler's Ryan Nance provided a spark for the Bulldogs with his second home run of the year - a two run shot over the scoreboard in right field. Jeremy Sinsabaugh burned the Golden Gophers for a double to left-center two pitches later, but Woodrow struck out the next two batters to end the Bulldog effort in the fifth.
The Golden Gophers ran away with the lead in the sixth, thanks to a few Bulldog mishaps. Welch led the inning off with a triple to right-center field, and Kennedy and junior Scott Howard each earned a free pass to load the bases with no outs. After junior Jeremy Beaulieu popped out to second, Steidl lined a single into center field, scoring Welch and Kennedy. The ball hopped passed the center fielder Sinsabaugh, allowing Howard to round third and Steidl to move into second base. Butler shortstop Jared Lowe attempted to throw Howard out on the cut-off, but his throw hit the dirt and skipped passed catcher Eddie Olszta. Olszta chased the ball down to the backstop and tried to stop Steidl from advancing to third base; but Olszta's throw went wild and past third baseman and Bowlus, Minn. native Tony Stay, providing Steidl the opportunity to score on the third error of the play.
After the chaos had ended and Neshek was relieved, Minnesota held a 9-2 lead. Butler got back into the game with a handful of RBI singles in the bottom half of the sixth inning, but it would not be enough. Freshman Chad Drexler threw three and two-thirds innings of shutout baseball to record his second save and seal the victory for the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota, now 12-11, heads to Muncie, Ind. on Wednesday to face Ball State, before traveling to Bloomington, Ind. to continue the Big Ten schedule.
