University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Upsets No. 2 Cal State Fullerton 7-1
3/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota chased Cal State Fullerton ace Ryan Schreppel out of the game early scoring seven runs off him in four and a third innings. Schreppel came into the game with a 0.62 ERA, had only given up two runs in 29 innings and was riding a 14 inning scoreless streak.
The Golden Gophers scored three runs in the top of the second to go up 3-0. Ben Pattee (Ukiah, Calf.) started the inning with a double, and advanced to third on a Jon Becker (Plato, Minn.) infield single. Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn.) drilled a single to bring home Pattee and made the score 1-0. After Fornasiere and Becker moved up to second and third on a wild pitch, redshirt freshman Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.) smacked a base hit to bring home both baserunners and move the Golden Gophers up 3-0.
In the fourth inning Pattee led off by reaching on an error and advanced to third when Schreppel walked the next two batters to load the bases. Pattee came around to score on a David Roach (Clearwater, Fla.) double play to make the score 4-0. With two outs and Becker on third, Hunter drilled his second RBI single of the day to make it 5- 0.
With one out in the top of the fifth inning, David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis.) singled and advanced to third on a Luke Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn.) double. Hrncirik beat the Titan second baseman's throw home on a Pattee fielder's choice to give Minnesota a 6-0 lead. With two outs and Appert on third, Fornasiere singled home his second run of the night to put the Golden Gophers up 7-0. Cal State Fullerton got a sacrifice fly in top of the ninth by Jason Corapci to make it 7-1.
Gagner took the win pitching seven shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out three batters to move to 1-1. Schreppel took his first collegiate loss to fall to 4-1 on the season. Freshman Brian Bull pitched two innings in relief and gave up one run on the night.
"I thought Jay (Gagner) pitched a great game tonight," said Minnesota Head Coach John Anderson. "He did a good job of mixing his pitches up and throwing strikes all night. Gagner has great mound presence and pitches his game no matter what the situation, and he did that very well tonight."
Minnesota was led by Hunter who was two for three with three RBI. Fornasiere was two for three with two RBI and a run on the night. Pattee also finished the night one for four with two runs and an RBI.
Cal State Fullerton was led by Corapci who was one for three with an RBI.
Minnesota and Cal State Fullerton will play the second game of the series on Saturday, Mar. 8 at 2 p.m. in the Metrodome. The Golden Gophers will have C.J. Woodrow (Maple Grove, Minn.), who is 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA, on the mound. The Titans will pitch Wes Littleton who is 3-0 with a 3.47 ERA. The third game of the series will take place on Sunday, Mar. 9 at 12 p.m.
