.png&width=42&height=42&type=webp)
University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Hosts No. 2 Missouri on Mar. 25-26
3/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
 Minnesota will host six games at the Metrodome this week. The Golden Gophers will face No. 2 Missouri on Tuesday, Mar. 25 at 6:35 p.m. and Wednesday, Mar. 26 at 1:35 p.m. Both games can be seen live on the Gold Zone, and can be heard on gophersports.com. Minnesota will then open up Big Ten play against Indiana on Friday, Mar. 28 at 6:35 p.m. The Golden Gophers will also face the Hoosiers in a doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 29 at 2:05 p.m. and in a single game at 1:05 on Sunday, Mar. 30. Minnesota enters the week with a 9-8 overall record, and has won five of its last six games. Missouri has won 13 games in a row, and is 18-2. Indiana enters the week with a 9-7 overall record, and will play Xavier on Wednesday, Mar. 26 in a midweek game.
 Minnesota’s matchup with No. 2 Missouri will be the highest ranked team the Golden Gophers have played at home since 2003. That season, Minnesota faced No. 2 Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series on Mar. 7-9. The Golden Gophers won two of three games from the Titans that weekend. Minnesota also faced No. 5 South Carolina in 2005 in the Dairy Queen Classic.
The Golden Gophers are in the middle of an 11-game homestand, which will conclude on Mar. 30. Minnesota opened the homestand by splitting a pair of games against North Dakota State and sweeping a three-game series from South Dakota State. The Golden Gophers host No. 2 Missouri on Mar. 25-26 and then open up Big Ten play against Indiana on Mar. 28-30 in a four-game series. It is the longest homestand since 2005, when the Golden Gophers 11-8 in a 19-game homestand from Mar. 4 to Apr. 13.
Minnesota recorded 38 strikeouts in a three-game series against South Dakota State on Mar. 21-23. The Golden Gophers struck out 13 batters on Mar. 21, 17 on Mar. 22 and eight on Mar. 23. Minnesota’s 17 strikeouts on Mar. 22 were the most by the Golden Gophers as a team since at least 1997. All three of Minnesota starters had career-highs in strikeouts. Tom Buske and Kyle Carr each had 10 strikeouts in their respective starts on Mar. 21 and 22. They both became the first Golden Gophers to register double-digit strikeouts since 2006. Dustin Brabender also had a career-high with seven strikeouts on Mar. 27.
Scott Matyas was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 24. Matyas had three appearances last week, picked up a save, a win and struck out six batters in 2.2 innings. He struck out the side on Mar. 21 to register a save against South Dakota State, and pitched two thirds innings to pick up a win against the Jackrabbits on Mar. 23. Matyas joins Phil Isaksson as one of two Golden Gophers to claim the honors this year. Matt Nohelty was also named Big Ten Player of the Week for Mar. 10.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Minnesota Missouri
RHP Dustin Klabunde RHP Greg Folgia
(0-0, 4.15 ERA) (1-0, 4.50 ERA)
RHP Tyler Oakes LHP Rick Zagone
(0-1, 13.06 ERA) (0-1, 8.10 ERA)
 Minnesota’s matchup with No. 2 Missouri will be the highest ranked team the Golden Gophers have played at home since 2003. That season, Minnesota faced No. 2 Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series on Mar. 7-9. The Golden Gophers won two of three games from the Titans that weekend. Minnesota also faced No. 5 South Carolina in 2005 in the Dairy Queen Classic.
The Golden Gophers are in the middle of an 11-game homestand, which will conclude on Mar. 30. Minnesota opened the homestand by splitting a pair of games against North Dakota State and sweeping a three-game series from South Dakota State. The Golden Gophers host No. 2 Missouri on Mar. 25-26 and then open up Big Ten play against Indiana on Mar. 28-30 in a four-game series. It is the longest homestand since 2005, when the Golden Gophers 11-8 in a 19-game homestand from Mar. 4 to Apr. 13.
Minnesota recorded 38 strikeouts in a three-game series against South Dakota State on Mar. 21-23. The Golden Gophers struck out 13 batters on Mar. 21, 17 on Mar. 22 and eight on Mar. 23. Minnesota’s 17 strikeouts on Mar. 22 were the most by the Golden Gophers as a team since at least 1997. All three of Minnesota starters had career-highs in strikeouts. Tom Buske and Kyle Carr each had 10 strikeouts in their respective starts on Mar. 21 and 22. They both became the first Golden Gophers to register double-digit strikeouts since 2006. Dustin Brabender also had a career-high with seven strikeouts on Mar. 27.
Scott Matyas was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Mar. 24. Matyas had three appearances last week, picked up a save, a win and struck out six batters in 2.2 innings. He struck out the side on Mar. 21 to register a save against South Dakota State, and pitched two thirds innings to pick up a win against the Jackrabbits on Mar. 23. Matyas joins Phil Isaksson as one of two Golden Gophers to claim the honors this year. Matt Nohelty was also named Big Ten Player of the Week for Mar. 10.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Minnesota Missouri
RHP Dustin Klabunde RHP Greg Folgia
(0-0, 4.15 ERA) (1-0, 4.50 ERA)
RHP Tyler Oakes LHP Rick Zagone
(0-1, 13.06 ERA) (0-1, 8.10 ERA)
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballLHP
/ BaseballLHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballNeels & Sutherland Go Back-to-Back
Wednesday, February 25
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Northeastern
Wednesday, February 25
Sights & Sounds: Spring Training
Sunday, February 22
Postgame Rouser: Gophers-Twins
Saturday, February 21