University of Minnesota Athletics
BB: Minnesota Defeats Minnesota-Duluth 10-6
3/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Golden Gophers were led by Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn.) who went two-for- four with two runs and two RBI. Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.) had a team-high three hits, as he went three-for-four with one run and one RBI. Mike Mee (Richfield, Minn.) was also one-for-two with his second home run of the year and two RBI. Luke MacLean (Bloomington, Minn.) also finished with two RBI.
Minnesota got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with three runs to go up 3-0. David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis.) led off with single and stole his sixth base of the season. After Hrncirik moved to third, Fornasiere brought him home with a one-out RBI double to put Minnesota up 1-0. Mee followed with a two-run homer, his second of the year, to put the Golden Gophers ahead 3-0.
The Golden Gophers added a single run in the bottom of the fourth on Kevin Carlson’s first career home run to go up 4-0.
Minnesota-Duluth scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning to cut the lead to 4-2, but Minnesota answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning when MacLean singled home two runs to push the lead out to 6-2.
The Golden Gophers added two runs in the bottom of the sixth to go up 8-2. Fornasiere had an RBI double to push the lead to 7-2, and two batters later Hunter delivered an RBI double of his own to push the score to 8-2.
Minnesota-Duluth tightened up the game with four runs in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 8-6.
Minnesota added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh to move the score to 10-6. Taylor VanderAarde (Hastings, Minn.) had a fielder’s choice RBI with the bases loaded, and Joe Maciej (Elk River, Minn.) came around to score on a throwing error to give Minnesota the 10-6 lead.
Sophomore Marcus McKenzie (Minnetonka, Minn.) picked up the win in relief to move to 1-0 on the season. McKenzie gave up six hits, three runs and struck out two in four innings to pick up the victory. Josh Krogman (St. Cloud, Minn.) started and pitched two scoreless innings, while giving up three hits and striking out four batters. Brian Bull (Omaha, Neb.) pitched one and two thirds scoreless innings, and Jon Mueller (LaCrosse, Wis.) finished off the game with a scoreless innings.
Minnesota-Duluth starter Luke Hagman gave up six hits and four runs in three innings to take the loss.
Greg Aker went three-for-four for the Bulldogs, while Nate Cermak was two-for-four with two RBI.
The Golden Gophers will play St. Cloud State on Wednesday, Mar. 16 at 6:30 p.m. Minnesota will also play a three-game series against Rutgers. The first game will Friday, Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m., followed by Saturday, Mar. 19 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 20 at 12 p.m.
