University of Minnesota Athletics
BB: Minnesota Drops 12-3 Decision to No. 21 Arkansas
2/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Arkansas got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the third to go up 3-0. Chris Hollensworth was hit by a pitch, and moved to third after being sacrificed and moving up on a wild pitch. Jake Dugger drove Hollensworth home on a sacrifice fly to give Arkansas a 1-0 lead. With two outs and just a runner on first, Minnesota proceeded to walk the next four batters to bring home two Razorback runs to give them a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota got those runs right back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Jake Elder (Delta, British Columbia) got things going with a leadoff walk. Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.) followed up with a single to make it first and second with nobody out. Arkansas starter Charley Boyce got the first out to make it first and second with one out. David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis.) drilled a single to centerfield to bring home Elder to make it 3-1. Hrncirik moved up to second on an error by the Arkansas centerfielder, and Hunter advanced to third. Boyce retired the next batter for the second out of the inning, but Tony Leseman (St. Paul, Minn.) singled to centerfield to bring home Hunter and Hrncirik to tie the game at 3-3.
The Razorbacks answered in the bottom of the fourth when Casey Rowlett hit a grand slam with one out in the inning to give Arkansas a 7-3 lead. Arkansas added a single run in the bottom of the sixth to move the score to 8-3.
Arkansas pushed the lead out to 11-3 when Dugger delivered a two-out double with the bases loaded that brought home three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Razorbacks added a single run in the eighth for the final 12-3 score.
Minnesota starter Marcus McKenzie (Minnetonka, Minn.) went two and two thirds innings, gave up two hits, three runs and walked five as he got the no-decision in his first career start for the Golden Gophers. Senior Luke Beresford (Duluth, Minn.) gave up two runs in a third of an inning to pick up the loss.
Jon Mueller (LaCrosse, Wis.) pitched two thirds scoreless innings of relief for Minnesota, while Tim Theis (Shakopee, Minn.) gave up two hits and one run in an inning of work.
The Golden Gophers chased Boyce out of the game in the fourth, after he gave up six hits and three runs in three and two thirds innings. Reliever James Gilbert came in and pitched five-and-a-third shutout innings, only giving up two hits and two walks. Gilbert picked up the win in relief for Arkansas.
Hunter finished the game two-for-four with a run, while John Arlt (Lakeville, Minn.) was also two-for-four. Leseman finished one-for-three with two RBI, while Hrncirik was one- for-four with one run and one RBI. Elder was 0-for-2, but walked twice and scored a run, while Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn.) got on base twice and was one-for-four.
The Razorbacks were led by Rowlett who went three-for-four with a grand slam, two runs, four RBI and a double. Dugger was two-for-four with four RBI and one run.
Minnesota will wrap up the three-game series against Arkansas on Sunday, Feb. 27 at 1:05 p.m.
