University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Falls to Sacramento State 12-7
3/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead on a Scott Welch (Missoula, Mon.) RBI single, that brought home Sam Steidl (Alexandria, Minn.). Sacramento State came right back in the bottom of the inning with two runs to go up 2-1 on an RBI double by Mikela Olsen and an RBI single by Jess Schmidt.
David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis.) had an RBI groundout in the top of the second to tie the score at 2-2. However, the Hornets struck for three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 5-2, in an inning highlighted by John Acha's two RBI single.
With one out in top of the third Luke Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) doubled down the left field line and scored to make it 5-3, when the Hornet leftfielder Olsen misplayed the ball. Sacramento State scored a run in the fourth to move its lead back up to 6-3. With two outs in the same inning Cliff Hinkle widened the gap with a three-run homer to make it 9-3.
Sacramento State added two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to make it 12-3. Minnesota cut the lead to 12-7 on a trio of RBI singles by Steidl, Ben Pattee (Ukiah, Calif.) and Jake Elder (Delta, British Columbia), along with an RBI groundout by Gary Dick (Grand Rapids, Minn.).
Golden Gopher starter Reid Mahon gave up five runs, two earned and six hits in one and two thirds innings of work to take the loss and fall to 0-1. Hornet starter Steve Cuckovich moved to 3-1 on the season pitching six and a third innings and giving up six runs.
Minnesota was led by Steidl who was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.) was 2-for-3 with one run, while Appert scored twice and was 1-for-4.
The Golden Gophers helped the Hornets with five errors on the game. Sacramento also had 17 hits on the day.
The Hornets were led by Hinkle who was 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI. Chris Kinsey was 4-for-5 with one run and one RBI.
Minnesota will get a well deserved day off Thursday, Mar. 20 after playing nine games in 13 days. The Golden Gophers will be back in action on Friday, Mar. 21 when they take on Fresno State at 6:35 p.m. PT.
