University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Defeats NDSU 4-2
3/24/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball team (7-14) snapped a three-game losing streak, as it defeated North Dakota State (7-10) 4-2 at the Metrodome on Wednesday, Mar. 24.
Minnesota was led by junior Michael Kvasnicka (Lakeville, Minn.) who went 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Sophomore AJ Pettersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) was 1-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) also reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run, while freshman Andy Henkemeyer (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) reached base twice and went 1-for-2 with a run. Kurt Schlangen (Albany, Minn.) also went 1-for-3 with a run.
Junior Phil Isaksson (Eau Claire, Wis.) started and took a no-decision, as he went 4.2 innings, gave up two hits, one run, walked one and struck out four batters. Freshman Billy Soule (Hamel, Minn.) pitched 2.1 shutout innings in relief to pick up his first career win. Scott Matyas (North Prairie, Wis.) picked up his first save of the year, as he pitched 1.1 shutout innings.
North Dakota State starter McHale Maristuen took the loss to fall to 1-2, as he gave up seven hits, four runs, walked one and struck out four in 4.1 innings. Mark Hermes pitched 3.2 shutout innings of relief for the Bison.
North Dakota State got on the board first with a single run in the top of the fourth inning. Justin Kline led off the inning with a single, and moved to third on a double by Zach Wentz. Kline scored on a sacrifice fly by Eric Nutzhorn to make it 1-0. Isaksson retired to the next two batters to minimize the damage.
Minnesota got the run back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1. Geason led off the inning with a double, and moved to third on a single by Kvasnicka. Kyle Knudson (Maple Grove, Minn.) plated Geason with a fielder's choice ground out to tie the game.
The Golden Gophers moved ahead 4-1 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Henkemeyer led off with a single, and moved to third when Schlangen singled and moved to second on an error by the leftfielder. With one out, Pettersen plated both runners with a two-run single to make it 3-1. Kvasnicka followed with a two-out RBI triple to bring home Pettersen to make it a three-run Gopher lead.
North Dakota State scored a single run in the top of the eighth on a Wentz RBI single to make it 4-2. The Bison were led by Wentz who reached base three times, and went 2-for-3 with double and an RBI. Kline also reached base twice and was 1-for-3 with a run.
Minnesota will then face Louisiana Tech in a three-game series on Mar. 26-28. The Golden Gophers will face Louisiana Tech at the Metrodome on Friday, Mar. 26 at 6:35 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 28 at 12:05 p.m. Minnesota will play the first game at Target Field on Saturday, Mar. 27 at 1:10 p.m. against Louisiana Tech. All of this weekends' games can be heard live in the Gold Zone. Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech will be broadcast live on the WCCO (830 AM), and Sunday's game can be heard on KLBB (1220 AM).
