University of Minnesota Athletics
BB: Minnesota Falls to No. 21 Arkansas 4-3
2/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Arkansas got on the board first in the bottom of the third with two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Clint Arnold led off with a double for the Razorbacks and came around to score on a Casey Rowlett RBI single to make it 1-0. Rowlett stole second base and came around to score on an RBI double by Danny Hamblin to push the lead to 2-0.
Minnesota came right back with two runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 2-2. Luke MacLean (Bloomington, Minn.) got things started with a leadoff single. MacLean moved to second on a Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn.). Mike Mee (Richfield, Minn.) followed with a bloop single to make it first and third. Mee made it second and third with one out when he moved up on a wild pitch.
Jake Elder (Delta, British Columbia) delivered a single up the middle to bring home MacLean and Mee to tie the game at 2-2. After Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.) was hit by the pitch, Arkansas starter Josh Smith was removed from the game.
Arkansas reliever Chuck Seibert came in with one out and runners on first and second, and retired the next two batters to get out of the inning and keep the score tied at 2-2.
The Razorbacks picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead. With one out Scott Hode had a bloop hit that dropped to allow Hode to hustle to second for a one-out double. John Marquardt followed with a single to make it first and third with one out. Arnold brought home the run with a sacrifice fly to give Arkansas a 3-2 lead.
Minnesota got the run back in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Fornasiere led the inning off with a single. Mee walked to move Fornasiere to second base. Elder followed with an RBI double to bring home Fornasiere to tie the game at 3-3. With runners on second and third, Arkansas reliever Trey Holloway came into face Hunter. Hunter lined a shot to Razorback third baseman Clay Goodwin who caught the ball and stepped on third to get Mee out for the double play. Elder moved up to third on a passed ball with the next batter up with two outs, but Holloway got out of the inning to keep it tied at 3-3.
Arkansas moved back ahead with one run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 4-3. Blake Parker started things with a one-out single. Parker was wiped out on fielder's choice groundout, but when Minnesota tried to turn the double play the ball was thrown away and Hode advanced to second on the throwing error. The next batter John Marquardt delivered an RBI single to give the Razorbacks a 4-3 lead.
Brian Bull (Omaha, Neb.) took a tough-luck loss as he only allowed two runs, one unearned in three-and-two thirds innings of relief. Arkansas' Trey Holloway picked up his second win of the series as he pitched four shutout innings in relief, only giving up one hit.
Minnesota knocked out Arkansas starter Josh Smith in the top of the fourth inning, as Smith gave up two runs in three-and-a third innings. It was the third straight game that the Golden Gophers have knocked out the Razorbacks starter in the fourth.
Josh Oslin (Mora, Minn.) gave up three hits and two runs in three innings of work for Minnesota. John Gaub pitched one-and-a third shutout innings, as he struck out two batters.
Elder led the way at the plate for Minnesota going two-for-four with three RBI and a double. MacLean was also two-for-four with one run. Mee was one-for-three with a run, while Fornasiere was one-for-four with a run.
Arkansas was led by Danny Hamblin who was two-for-four with an RBI, and Marquardt who was two-for-three with the winning RBI.
Minnesota will return home to host the Dairy Queen Classic on Mar. 4-6 at the Metrodome. The Golden Gophers will host New Orleans on Friday, Mar 4 at 6:35 p.m. Minnesota will then take on No. 5 South Carolina on Saturday, Mar 5 at 6:35 p.m. The Golden Gophers will wrap up the Dairy Queen Classic against Pepperdine on Sunday, Mar. 6 at 3:05 p.m.
The Golden Gophers' game against New Orleans will be on WMGT (1220 AM). The Minnesota-South Carolina game will telecast on a tape-delayed basis on Fox Sports Net North at 8:30 p.m.
