University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Outduels No. 14 Nebraska 3-1
3/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nebraska moved up 1-0 in the first frame when Alex Gordon doubled home Jesse Boyer with one out. The Cornhuskers kept the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Minnesota jumped ahead 2-1 on an RBI single by Jake Elder (Delta, British Columbia) and an RBI groundout by Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn.). The Golden Gophers tacked one more run on to go up 3-1 for the final score in the bottom of the eighth when Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.) scored on a Fornasiere single.
Minnesota starter Glen Perkins (Stillwater, Minn.) picked up his first win of the season, as he pitched six innings, allowed four hits, one run and struck out four batters. After surrendering two hits and one run in the first inning, Perkins settled down and allowed no runs and only three baserunners in the remaining five innings he pitched. Freshman righthander Cole DeVries (Eden Prairie, Minn.) pitched three shutout innings of relief, in only his second collegiate outing, to pick his first career save. Minnesota's bullpen has not allowed a run in seven and two thirds scoreless innings in the Dairy Queen Baseball Classic.
"Our team made it a point of emphasis to have a good showing in the Dairy Queen Classic this year," said John Anderson. "Our pitching has been very strong for us in this tournament, which as been a big reason for our success. I also think our team has been very patient. I am proud of the fact that we have trailed in both these games, but battled back to win both of them."
Nebraska appeared headed for a big first inning after Gordon doubled home a run, and made it second and third with only one out. However, Perkins retired the final two batters to limit the Cornhuskers to one run.
Minnesota and Nebraska exchanged several wasted scoring opportunities, but the score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Mike Mee (Richfield, Minn.) got things started with his second double of the game to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Elder followed up with an RBI single to tie the game 1-1. Hunter followed with a single to make it first and second with no outs. David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis.) pushed the runners along with a sacrifice bunt, and Fornasiere brought home Elder with an RBI groundout to move Minnesota ahead 2-1.
Hunter got things started in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out single. Hrncirik followed with a single to make it first and second. Fornasiere followed with a single. On that play Hrncirik took a wide turn at second, which drew the throw, allowing Hunter to come home and score the third run.
Quinton Robertson started for Nebraska and picked up the loss, as he went five innings gave up seven hits, two runs and struck out six batters.
Hunter paced Minnesota going three-for-four with a run. Mee was two- for-four with a run and two doubles, while Sam Steidl (Alexandria, Minn.) also went two-for-four. Elder and Fornasiere each had RBI for Minnesota on the night.
Curtis Ledbetter led Nebraska going one-for-four with an RBI.
Minnesota enters Sunday undefeated in the Dairy Queen Baseball Classic for the first time since 2000. That year Minnesota defeated Georgia and Notre Dame, before losing to Wake Forest on Sunday to finish third. The Golden Gophers went undefeated in the Dairy Queen Classic in 1994, as they defeated Arizona State, Arizona and Ohio State.
The Golden Gophers will face No. 22 Florida State on Sunday, Mar. 6 at 3:05 p.m. That game will be broadcast by KSNB (950 AM). The first game will feature No. 14 Nebraska against West Virginia at 11 a.m.
