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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Drops 4-1 Decision to No. 18 California
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball team (3-5) had its three-game winning streak snapped as it dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 18 California (8-1-1) at the Metrodome on Saturday, Mar. 8.
Minnesota struggled throughout the game with runners on base as it stranded nine on base, and went 1-for-13 with runners on base. California went 3-for-9 on the night in the same situation.
The Golden Gophers were led by senior Jeremy Chlan (Apple Valley, Minn.) who reached base three times, had a sacrifice bunt and went 2-for-2 in the game. Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) went 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Jon Hummel (Lakefield, Minn.) reached base twice and was 1-for-3. Junior Matt Nohelty (Rothschild, Wis.) also was 1-for-5 with a run.
Junior starter Kyle Carr (Linton, N.D.) took the loss to fall to 0-2 on the season. Carr had the longest outing of his career as a converted starter, going 5.2 innings, giving up four hits, one earned run, four walks and striking out a career-high seven batters. Freshman Seth Rosin (Mounds View, Minn.) pitched a career-high 3.1 innings, gave up three hits, on earned run, one walk and struck out two batters.
California starter Craig Bennigson picked up the win to move to 3-0, as he went 6.1 innings, gave up five hits, one run, walked four and struck out 10 batters. The Golden Bears bullpen combined to pitch 2.2 shutout innings without surrendering a hit. Daniel Wolford went 1.2 innings, and struck out four Golden Gophers, while Matt Gorgen picked up his second save of the year by pitching one shutout inning. California pitchers struck out 15 Golden Gophers on the night.
The Golden Bears got on the board first with a single run in the top of the second inning. Josh Satin led off the inning with a walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Satin stole second and scored on an errant throw that sailed into left field.
Minnesota got the run back in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-1. Nohelty led off with a chopper up the middle that he beat out for a base hit, after California shortstop Michael Brady was unable to come up with the ball on the first hop. Chlan laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Nohelty to second base. With two outs, Kvasnicka delivered an RBI single to left field to plate Nohelty to tie the game at 1-1.
California moved back ahead in the top of the fifth inning with a single run to make the score 2-1. Brady got things going by reaching on a one-out infield single. Rich Gorman followed with an infield single, and Brady moved up to third on a throwing error by Hanson. Jeff Kobernus brought Brady home with a sacrifice fly to left field to give California back a one-run lead.
The Golden Bears added a pair of runs in the seventh to take a 4-1 lead. Pinch-hitter Ryan Hanlon got things started with a one-out walk. Hanlon came all the way around to score from first base on a hit-and-run RBI single to right center field by Rich Gorman to make it 3-1. Gorman stole second base, and moved to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He came around to score on an RBI bunt-single on a suicide squeeze attempt by Kobernus to make it 4-1.
Minnesota mounted a scoring threat in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chancy Handran (Scobey, Mont.) struck out, but reached on a wild pitch to start off the inning. Pinch-runner Aaron Larson (Lakeville, Minn.) stole second and moved up to third on a throwing error by the catcher on a strikeout. Chlan drew a walk, and moved up to second on a wild pitch with one out. Wolford came back to strike out Hanson and Kvasnicka to escape the inning without any damage.
Prior to the game, the 1968 Big Ten Championship team was honored with a ceremony. Minnesota will honor the 1988 and 1998 Big Ten Tournament Championship teams on Sunday, Mar. 9 prior to the game.
California was led by Kobernus who was 1-for-3 with two RBI, while Gorman reached base three times and was 2-for-3 with a run, a stolen base and an RBI. Brady was also 2-for-4 with a run.
Minnesota finishes the Metrodome Tournament against Northern Iowa on Sunday, Mar. 9 at 3:05 p.m. That game can be seen live in the Gold Zone, and will be heard on gophersports.com. Minnesota’s game against Northern Iowa on Mar. 9 will be broadcast live on KLBB (1220 AM).
