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University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Holds on to Defeat Central Michigan 4-3
3/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Central Michigan took advantage of a Minnesota error to get on the board first. Tim Groves came in to score on a ground out by David Latour in the fourth inning. The Chippewas made it 2-0 in the top of the fifth, when Travis Osborn's line drive to diving left fielder Scott Howard brought in Tim Bullinger from third.
Central Michigan righthander Dan Horvath limited Minnesota to just one hit in the first four innings - a leadoff single to Steidl in the bottom of the first, but the Golden Gophers exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Junior Ben Pattee led off with a double into the right-center field gap. He moved up on a wild pitch, then came in to score Minnesota's first run on a wild throw by catcher Scott Pickens. Back-to-back walks by sophomore Gary Dick and senior Jeremy Beaulieu put runners on first and second. Steidl then gave the Golden Gophers the lead with a two-RBI triple to left-center. Welch's ground ball moved Steidl across home plate, and Minnesota was ahead 4-2 after five innings of play.
Steidl's run proved to be the game-winner, as Krogman teamed up with sophomore Jeff Moen and Beresford to hold the Chippewas to just one run over the next four innings. Krogman and Moen allowed just one earned run apiece, and combined for nine strikeouts. Beresford needed just one pitch in the ninth to get Groves to fly to Steidl in center and end the game.
Minnesota improved to 6-10, and has now won two games in a row. Central Michigan fell to 9-4, and lost for the first time in five games. The two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon for a double-header, beginning at 1 p.m. CDT at the Metrodome. The four-game series will conclude Sunday at Noon.
