University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Slips Again, Loses 14-6 to NSU
2/24/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
For the second straight day, things looked promising for Minnesota, as the Maroon and Gold took a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Junior Ben Pattee scored on senior Jason Kennedy's infield single to start the game. The Golden Gophers added to the margin in the second. Senior Rob LaRue led off the inning with a hard single up the middle. Senior Jeremy Beaulieu then roped a double down the left field line, putting runners on second and third. Senior Scott Howard's single into left-center on the very next pitch scored LaRue and Beaulieu, giving Minnesota a 3-0 lead.
Northwestern State got right back in the game, capitalizing on a Minnesota error in the bottom of the second. It looked like sophomore starter Josh Krogman was going to retire the Demons in order, but sophomore Dan Thompson's throw from shortstop lifted freshman Jake Elder's foot off the base at first, allowing Steven Adams to reach safely. Northwestern State eventually batted around in the inning, scoring five unearned runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter.
The Demons scored one more in the third and three more in the fourth to give them a 9-3 advantage.
Freshman Jake Elder recorded his first collegiate hit in the fifth inning - a single through the left side, scoring Kennedy and cutting the Demon lead to 9-4.
Two more Northwestern State runs in the fifth extended the margin to 11-4, but the Golden Gophers answered right back. LaRue knocked his second hit of the game to lead off the sixth inning. He then stole second base, and came around to score on an infield hit by Pattee and a throwing error by the shortstop.
Kennedy led off the seventh with a hard-hit double to right-center field. He moved up, then scored on a pair of wild pitches, making the score 11-6.
Three more runs in the bottom of the seventh gave Northwestern State a 14-6 lead, and put the Golden Gophers away for good.
Minnesota returns home next weekend to open up its home schedule. The Golden Gophers will host their annual Hormel Foods Baseball Classic Mar. 1-3. This year's opponents include Alabama, Florida Atlantic and Tennessee. For ticket information, please call (612) 624-8080 or 1-800-U-GOPHER (800-846-7437). Ticket and game information can also be found online at www.GopherSports.com.
