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University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Walks Away From Pacific with Series Sweep
3/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Pacific started the scoring when leadoff hitter Evan Bishop notched the first Tiger run since the sixth inning of the first game of the series. After allowing singles to the first two Pacific batters, Golden Gopher starter Matt Loberg (Anoka, Minn./Anoka) retired the next 12 hitters faced. Overall, Loberg threw for 6 innings with four hits, one earned run and two strikeouts.
Designated hitter Scott Welch (Missoula, Mont./Loyola-Sacred Heart) began a streak of five consecutive Golden Gophers reaching base in the second inning when his bloop hit to the middle of center field dropped between three Pacific fielders. Welch then moved to third when catcher Jake Elder (Delta, B.C./North Delta) doubled down the right line. Shortstop Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) then took a free pass to first. Next up, David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis./West) singled down the right line to bring home Fornasiere and Welch. Hrncirik moved to second on a stolen base and scored on a single by first baseman David Roach (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater). Minnesota ended the second with a 4-1 lead.
The Golden Gophers also added one run in the fourth inning, with Fornasiere scoring his second run on Hrncirik's second RBI single of the game. After a half hour ran delay in the bottom of the fifth, Minnesota came out looking to add more runs. In the sixth, Elder singled to right field, advanced to second with a steal and moved to third on a single by Hrncirik. Elder then scored on a pass ball, followed by Hrncirik notching the seventh Minnesota run on an fielding error by the pitcher.
The final three Golden Gopher runs were scored in the eighth inning. Jon Becker (Plato, Minn./Iowa Central C.C.), pinch hitting for Roach, doubled to left field. Becker then scored on a single by center fielder Sam Steidl (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria), who was brought home on a Ben Pattee (Ukiah, Calif./Mendocino J.C.) double down the left line. Pattee tallied the final Minnesota run on a double by Welch.
Sophomore Dan Anderson (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) came in to relieve Loberg in the bottom of the seventh inning. Anderson had a commanding performance, holding Pacific without a run or walk while giving up only three hits and striking out four. In his two appearances this season, Anderson has yet to allow an earned run in his five innings pitched.
Overall, Hrncirik had his second 3-for-5 game of the series, bringing home two and scoring two himself. Elder was also 3-for-5 with two runs. Roach, Becker, Welch and Steidl each collected two hits. Roach also totaled two RBI. Welch's 2-for-5 performance with an RBI and run brought his totals to 7-for-14 with four runs and two RBI for the series.
Minnesota continues their road trip Monday night with a single meeting against San Jose State at 6:30 p.m. PT.
