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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Defeats Western Michigan 7-1
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball team (7-3) won for the seventh time in nine games, as it defeated Western Michigan (2-8) 7-1 at the Metrodome on Saturday, Mar. 7. Earlier in the day, Illinois State defeated South Dakota State 2-1.
Senior Tom Buske (Apple Valley, Minn.) tied a career-high with eighth innings pitched, as he gave up just three hits, one unearned run, walked one and struck out six batters in the game. Sophmore Cullen Sexton (Plover, Wis.) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Minnesota.
Minnesota picked up the victory in two hours and nine minutes in quickest game of the season. Every player in the Golden Gopher lineup also collected at least one hit on the night.
The Golden Gophers were led by junior Eric Decker (Cold Spring, Minn.) who went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Derek McCallum (Shoreview, Minn.) also had a multi-hit game, as he went 2-for-5 with a run. It marked the third straight game that McCallum has collected multiple hits.
Sophomore Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run to extend his hitting streak to 15 games dating back to the 2008 season. Kvasnicka is the only Golden Gopher to collect a hit in all 10 games this year. Matt Nohelty (Rothschild, Wis.) also reached base three times, and was 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Nohelty has now reached base in 26 straight games dating back to 2008.
Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and AJ Pettersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) were each 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. They were part of a Golden Gopher offense that collected four stolen bases on the night.
Minnesota loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning when Geason and Kvasnicka sandwiched walks around a single by McCallum. Western Michigan starter Brian Stroud induced a double play off the bat of Knudson to get out of the inning without any damage.
The Golden Gophers got on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a single run to take a 1-0 lead. Decker led off the inning with a line drive off the Western Michigan third basemamn's glove, stole second and moved to third on a fly ball to left field by O'Shea. Pettersen brought Decker home with an RBI bloop single to give the Golden Gophers the early lead.
Minnesota moved ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the third with a single run. With two outs, Knudson got things started with a double to right center field. Decker followed with an RBI single to right field, and moved up to second on a bobble by the Bronco outfielder. Stroud retired the next batter to limit the damage.
The Golden Gophers pushed their lead out to a 4-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. McCallum led off with a single, and moved to third on a double by Kvasnicka. Knudson reached on an error by the Western Michigan shortstop that allowed McCallum and Kvasnicka to score to give Minnesota a four-run lead.
Western Michigan cut the lead to three at 4-1 with a single run in the top of the sixth. Ryan McMillin reached on an error by the shortsop, and moved up on sacrifice bunt by Kyle Gailbrath. Chris Lewis plated McMillin with an RBI single to make it 4-1.
Minnesota finished the scoring with a three-run eighth to push its lead out to 7-1. With one out, O'Shea got things started with a single and moved to second when Jon Hummel (Lakefield, Minn.) drew a walk. Both runners moved up on ground out by Pettersen. Nohelty brought home both runners when he reached on an infield single. O'Shea scored on the hit and Hummel came around for the sixth run after an errant throw by the Western Michigan shortstop. Geason brought Nohelty home with an RBI single to push the score to 7-1.
Western Michigan starter Brian Stroud took the loss, as he gave up eight hits, four runs, walked four and struck out five in five innings of work. Bronco reliever John Navage also gave up three hits and three runs in 2.2 innings for the Broncos.
Offensively, Western Michigan was led by Lewis who was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Grant Simotes and Derek Mosher each went 1-for-3 on the night.
The Broncos defensive committed five errors on the night, marking the second time as many nights that a Golden Gopher opponent had five or more errors in a game.
Minnesota will will wrap up the Metrodome Tournament against South Dakota State on Sunday, Mar. 8 at 3:05 p.m. That g
Senior Tom Buske (Apple Valley, Minn.) tied a career-high with eighth innings pitched, as he gave up just three hits, one unearned run, walked one and struck out six batters in the game. Sophmore Cullen Sexton (Plover, Wis.) pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Minnesota.
Minnesota picked up the victory in two hours and nine minutes in quickest game of the season. Every player in the Golden Gopher lineup also collected at least one hit on the night.
The Golden Gophers were led by junior Eric Decker (Cold Spring, Minn.) who went 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Derek McCallum (Shoreview, Minn.) also had a multi-hit game, as he went 2-for-5 with a run. It marked the third straight game that McCallum has collected multiple hits.
Sophomore Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run to extend his hitting streak to 15 games dating back to the 2008 season. Kvasnicka is the only Golden Gopher to collect a hit in all 10 games this year. Matt Nohelty (Rothschild, Wis.) also reached base three times, and was 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a stolen base. Nohelty has now reached base in 26 straight games dating back to 2008.
Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and AJ Pettersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) were each 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. They were part of a Golden Gopher offense that collected four stolen bases on the night.
Minnesota loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first inning when Geason and Kvasnicka sandwiched walks around a single by McCallum. Western Michigan starter Brian Stroud induced a double play off the bat of Knudson to get out of the inning without any damage.
The Golden Gophers got on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a single run to take a 1-0 lead. Decker led off the inning with a line drive off the Western Michigan third basemamn's glove, stole second and moved to third on a fly ball to left field by O'Shea. Pettersen brought Decker home with an RBI bloop single to give the Golden Gophers the early lead.
Minnesota moved ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the third with a single run. With two outs, Knudson got things started with a double to right center field. Decker followed with an RBI single to right field, and moved up to second on a bobble by the Bronco outfielder. Stroud retired the next batter to limit the damage.
The Golden Gophers pushed their lead out to a 4-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. McCallum led off with a single, and moved to third on a double by Kvasnicka. Knudson reached on an error by the Western Michigan shortstop that allowed McCallum and Kvasnicka to score to give Minnesota a four-run lead.
Western Michigan cut the lead to three at 4-1 with a single run in the top of the sixth. Ryan McMillin reached on an error by the shortsop, and moved up on sacrifice bunt by Kyle Gailbrath. Chris Lewis plated McMillin with an RBI single to make it 4-1.
Minnesota finished the scoring with a three-run eighth to push its lead out to 7-1. With one out, O'Shea got things started with a single and moved to second when Jon Hummel (Lakefield, Minn.) drew a walk. Both runners moved up on ground out by Pettersen. Nohelty brought home both runners when he reached on an infield single. O'Shea scored on the hit and Hummel came around for the sixth run after an errant throw by the Western Michigan shortstop. Geason brought Nohelty home with an RBI single to push the score to 7-1.
Western Michigan starter Brian Stroud took the loss, as he gave up eight hits, four runs, walked four and struck out five in five innings of work. Bronco reliever John Navage also gave up three hits and three runs in 2.2 innings for the Broncos.
Offensively, Western Michigan was led by Lewis who was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Grant Simotes and Derek Mosher each went 1-for-3 on the night.
The Broncos defensive committed five errors on the night, marking the second time as many nights that a Golden Gopher opponent had five or more errors in a game.
Minnesota will will wrap up the Metrodome Tournament against South Dakota State on Sunday, Mar. 8 at 3:05 p.m. That g
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