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University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Sweeps Michigan in Big Ten Doubleheader
4/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In game two, Minnesota fell behind 6-4 in the fourth inning, but rallied to tie the game in the fifth inning and went ahead for good in the eighth inning. With two outs in the top of the eighth, rightfielder Ben Pattee (Ukiah, Calif./Mendocino J.C.) doubled to left centerfield to bring home centerfielder Sam Steidl (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) and give Minnesota an 8-7 lead, which would become the final.
Junior Jeff Moen (Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska) picked up the win in relief to get his first victory since his freshman season in 2001. Craig Murray took the loss for Michigan to fall to 0-2 on the season.
The Golden Gophers started off quickly in the second game scoring two runs in the first inning to go up 2-0. Steidl led off with a double to right centerfield and came around to score on a Pattee single for the first run. Two batters later, Pattee was brought home on an Andy Hunter (St. Paul, Minn./Sibley) RBI double for the second run. Michigan cut the score to 2-1 on a Brock Koman RBI single in the bottom of the first inning.
Minnesota added a run in the top of the second on a two-out RBI single by Steidl to make the score 3-1. The Golden Gophers moved the score to 4-1 in the third inning on a Hunter sacrifice fly, which brought home second baseman Luke Appert (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park-Cottage Grove). Michigan trimmed the lead to 4-2 on Jake Fox's RBI single in the bottom of the third.
Michigan jumped ahead of Minnesota with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go up 6-4. The Wolverines got RBI singles from Nick Rudden and Koman, along with an RBI double off the bat of Gino Lollio.
Minnesota came back to tie the game at 6-6 in top of the fifth. Pattee led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by Appert. Pattee got caught in a rundown when shortstop Scott Welch (Missoula, Mont./Loyola Sacred Heart) grounded back to the pitcher, but scored when Michigan's third baseman dropped the ball on a tag attempt. Welch moved to second on the fielders choice play in which Pattee scored. Welch then advanced to third on a Luke MacLean (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) grounder and tied the game on a wild pitch by Drew Taylor.
The Golden Gophers jumped ahead 7-6 in the top of the sixth. Steidl reached on a walk and advanced to third on Pattee single. With Appert at the plate, Steidl stole second and Pattee came around to score the run on an error to put Minnesota ahead. The lead did not last long as Michigan tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the sixth when Brandon Roberts was hit with a pitch with the bases loaded. The Wolverines had the bases loaded with two outs, but Moen struck out Chris Burhans to end the inning and keep the game tied.
Pattee was 4-for-5, including two doubles, with two RBI and two runs on the day. Steidl went 2-for-3 with three runs in the second game.
In the first game, the Golden Gophers were led by freshman southpaw Glen Perkins (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) who pitched his first career complete game in the 9-3 Minnesota victory. Perkins went seven innings, scattering seven hits and struck out six to move to 3-1 on the season. He is now 2-0 in his first two Big Ten starts. Michigan's Michael Penn gave up eight runs in six and a third innings to fall to 1-4 on the season.
Minnesota got on the board early in the second inning with one run to go up 1-0. Welch led off the inning with a single and advanced to second when first baseman David Roach (Clearwater, Fla./Clearwater) was hit by a pitch. Welch then stole third and came around to score on a fielder's choice RBI by third baseman David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis./West)
The Wolverines tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Nate Wright brought home Chris Burhans with a sacrifice fly to leftfield.
The Golden Gophers exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth sending 11 batters to the plate to move the score to 8-1. Catcher Jake Elder (Delta, B.C./North Delta) walked with one out, moved to second on a Tony Leseman (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Durham Hall) single and scored when Steidl hit a bloop single to left field to make it 2-1. Pattee doubled to centerfield to bring home Leseman and move the lead to 3-1. After Appert was intentionally walked to load the bases, Welch delivered a base hit off the pitchers foot to increase the score to 4-1. Hunter then hit a bases clearing double to put the score at 7-1. Hrncirik brought Hunter home with a double for the 8-1 margin.
Komen cut the lead to 8-3 for Michigan in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run homer to leftfield. Minnesota added a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 9-3 on an RBI single by Hrncirik.
Welch was 3-for-4 with two runs and a hit in the first game, while Hrncirik went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two stolen bases.
Minnesota will be back in action on Wednesday, Apr. 9 at 6 p.m. when it travels to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to take on Northern Iowa. The Golden Gophers will resume Big Ten play at Siebert Field when they play Penn State Friday, Apr. 11 at 3 p.m. in a single game, Saturday, Apr. 12 at 1 p.m. in a doubleheader and Sunday, Apr. 13 at 12 noon in a single game.
