University of Minnesota Athletics
BB: Minnesota Wins Series Opener Over Iowa 3-2
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
With the one-run victory, Minnesota has now won its last four games against the Hawkeyes by one run dating back to last year’s series when it won 3-2, 3-2 and 7-6 against Iowa at Siebert Field.
The Golden Gophers scored first with one run in the top of the second to go up 1-0. With two outs in the inning, Luke MacLean (Bloomington, Minn.) singled and stole his 10th base of the year. Tony Leseman (St. Paul, Minn.) followed with RBI single to bring home MacLean to give Minnesota the 1-0 lead.
Iowa tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Dusty Napolean delivered a solo home run to tie the game. Jason White followed with a one-out double in the inning. However, Minnesota starter Matt Loberg (Anoka, Minn.) got out of the jam to keep the game tied at 1-1.
Minnesota answered with two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead over Iowa. Jeremy Chlan (Apple Valley, Minn.) drew a leadoff walk, and moved to second on a Taylor VanderAarde (Hastings, Minn.) ground out. Chlan moved up to third on a wild pitch. Mike Mee (Richfield, Minn.) followed with a walk, and made it second and third when he moved up on a passed ball. Jake Elder (Delta, British Columbia) followed by delivering a single up the middle to bring home Chlan and Mee to make it 3-1.
Iowa cut the lead to 3-2 on a two-out solo home run by Nate Yoho. Kris Welker followed with a two-out double. Napolean made it first and second when he reached on a walk. However, Loberg struck out Andy Cox to get out of the jam and end the inning.
Loberg retired all three batters in the seventh, and left after giving up just two runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. John Gaub (South St. Paul, Minn.) came on to retire six of the final seven batters, going two innings and striking out four Hawkeyes to record his sixth save of the season. Loberg picked up the win to move to 6-4 on the season.
Iowa starter Luke O’Loughlin took the loss to fall to 1-4, as he pitched seven and a third innings, gave up three runs and struck out two.
Minnesota was led by MacLean who was two-for-two with a run and reached base three times on the night. Elder finished one-for-four with two RBI, while Leseman reached base twice and was one-for-three with one RBI. Matt Fornasiere (Maple Grove, Minn.) also was two-for-four on the night.
All three of Minnesota’s RBI came with two outs in an inning.
The Golden Gophers have also won six of their last seven one-run games, after starting the season 0-5 in one-run games.
Iowa was led by Napolean who was two-for-three with a home run and one RBI. Yoho was also one-for-two with a home run and an RBI.
Minnesota will be back in action on Saturday, May 7 when it plays a doubleheader against Iowa at 2 p.m. The Golden Gophers will finish the series against the Hawkeyes on Sunday, May 8 at 1 p.m. in a single game.
All three remaining games will be broadcast on WMGT (1220 AM).
