University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Falls 6-2 to Texas-Arlington
3/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball team (10-5) dropped a 6-2 decision to Texas-Arlington (8-10) in the first collegiate game played at Quik Trip Park in Grand Prairie, Texas on Tuesday, Mar. 17. It marked the first time this year that Minnesota has lost back-to-back games.
Minnesota was led by sophomore Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) who was 3-for-4 with two RBI. With the three RBI, Kvasnicka extended his hitting streak to 20 games dating back to 2008. Kvasnicka joins Matt Nohelty and Sam Steidl as the only Golden Gophers to have 20-game or more hitting streaks since 1998.
Senior Matt Nohelty (Rothschild, Wis.) was also 2-for-4 with a run on the night. Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) also reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run.
Texas-Arlington starter Ryan Robinson picked up the win to move to 1-1 as he pitched eight innings, gave up seven hits, two runs, walked two and struck out 10 batters on the night. Adam Boydston pitched a scoreless ninth inning to collect his first save of the year.
Golden Gopher starter Dustin Klabunde took the loss to fall to 0-1 as he pitched a career-high 4.2 innings, gave up four hits, four runs, two walks and struck out three batters. Tyler Oakes (Jordan, Minn.) gave up three hits, two runs, walked one and struck out a season-high three batters in 2.1 innings. Junior Allen Bechstein (Apple Valley, Minn.) pitched one shutout inning for Minnesota.
Minnesota got on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Nohelty led off with a single, and moved to second when Geason drew a walk. McCallum moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Kvasnicka cashed in on the opportunity with a two-run single up the middle to give Minnesota the early lead.
Texas-Arlington took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the third to go up 4-2. Chad Price got things started with a bunt single, and moved up to second when Jay Pitschka was hit by a pitch. Tim Steggall reached on an infield single that loaded the bases with no outs. Klabunde got Michael Choice to pop out to the second baseman for the first out, but Matt Otteman followed with a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Andrew Kainer was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Klabunde struck out Preston McCoy for the second out of the inning. Ryan Davis followed with a two-out, two-run single to put the Mavericks ahead 4-2.
The Mavericks extended their lead to 6-2 on a two-out, two-run homer by Matt Otteman in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Minnesota started a rally in the ninth as Derek McCallum (Shoreview, Minn.) drew a leadoff walk and Kvasnicka singled to make it first and second. However, Boydston shut the door by retiring the next three Golden Gopher hitters.
Texas Arlington was led by Otteman who went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Davis was also 1-for-4 with two RBI, while Price was 1-for-2 with one run.
The Golden Gophers will be back in action when they face Texas-Arlington on Wednesday, Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Park. That game can be heard live on gophersports.com.
Minnesota was led by sophomore Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) who was 3-for-4 with two RBI. With the three RBI, Kvasnicka extended his hitting streak to 20 games dating back to 2008. Kvasnicka joins Matt Nohelty and Sam Steidl as the only Golden Gophers to have 20-game or more hitting streaks since 1998.
Senior Matt Nohelty (Rothschild, Wis.) was also 2-for-4 with a run on the night. Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) also reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run.
Texas-Arlington starter Ryan Robinson picked up the win to move to 1-1 as he pitched eight innings, gave up seven hits, two runs, walked two and struck out 10 batters on the night. Adam Boydston pitched a scoreless ninth inning to collect his first save of the year.
Golden Gopher starter Dustin Klabunde took the loss to fall to 0-1 as he pitched a career-high 4.2 innings, gave up four hits, four runs, two walks and struck out three batters. Tyler Oakes (Jordan, Minn.) gave up three hits, two runs, walked one and struck out a season-high three batters in 2.1 innings. Junior Allen Bechstein (Apple Valley, Minn.) pitched one shutout inning for Minnesota.
Minnesota got on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Nohelty led off with a single, and moved to second when Geason drew a walk. McCallum moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Kvasnicka cashed in on the opportunity with a two-run single up the middle to give Minnesota the early lead.
Texas-Arlington took the lead with four runs in the bottom of the third to go up 4-2. Chad Price got things started with a bunt single, and moved up to second when Jay Pitschka was hit by a pitch. Tim Steggall reached on an infield single that loaded the bases with no outs. Klabunde got Michael Choice to pop out to the second baseman for the first out, but Matt Otteman followed with a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Andrew Kainer was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Klabunde struck out Preston McCoy for the second out of the inning. Ryan Davis followed with a two-out, two-run single to put the Mavericks ahead 4-2.
The Mavericks extended their lead to 6-2 on a two-out, two-run homer by Matt Otteman in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Minnesota started a rally in the ninth as Derek McCallum (Shoreview, Minn.) drew a leadoff walk and Kvasnicka singled to make it first and second. However, Boydston shut the door by retiring the next three Golden Gopher hitters.
Texas Arlington was led by Otteman who went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Davis was also 1-for-4 with two RBI, while Price was 1-for-2 with one run.
The Golden Gophers will be back in action when they face Texas-Arlington on Wednesday, Mar. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Park. That game can be heard live on gophersports.com.
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