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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Defeats No. 9 Connecticut 3-2
2/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball team (1-1) defeated No. 9 Connecticut (0-2) 3-2 in its second game of the Big Ten/Big East Challenge at Jack Russell Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Phil Isaksson (Eau Claire, Wis.), Billy Soule (Hamel, Minn.) and Scott Matyas (North Prairie, Wis.) combined to limit Connecticut to a two runs on the night. Isaksson started and pitched five innings, gave up three hits, one unearned run, walked two and struck out three to take a no-decision. Billy Soule (Hamel, Minn.) picked up the win in relief, as he gave up three hits, one run and struck out three batters in 2.2 innings. Matyas came in and picked up the save, as he struck out a batter and pitched 1.1 shutout innings.
Connecticut starter Matt Barnes took the loss as he gave up three hits, three runs (two earned), walked three and struck out 11 in six innings of work. Dan Feehan and Brian Ward combined on two shutout ininngs of work out of the bullpen.
Connecticut got on the board early with a single run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. John Andreoli led off the game with a double, and moved to third when Nick Ahmed reached on an error on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Isaksson got George Springer to pop out into a double play to temporarily avoid damage, but uncoiled a wild pitch that plated Andreoli to make it 1-0. After walking Mike Nemeth and LJ Mazzilli to load the bases, Isaksson got Doug Elliott to pop out to end the inning.
Minnesota got a single run back in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-1. David Bettenburg (St. Paul, Minn.) drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a balk. With two outs AJ Pettersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) plated Bettenburg with an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.
The Gophers took the lead at 3-1 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pettersen led off the inning with a walk and Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) singled through the right side to make it first and second. Nick O'Shea (Blaine, Minn.) delivered a single through the right side to load the bases with one out. Trip Schultz (Forest Lake, Minn.) followed with a ground ball to the shortstop. After the shortstop flipped it to second to get O'Shea, the Connecticut second baseman threw the ball into the dugout to allow Pettersen and Geason to score to make it 3-1.
Connecticut got a single run back in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 3-2. LJ Mazzilli led off with a single, and moved to third on a one-out hit-and-run single to right field. Mike Friel cut it to one run at 3-2 with an RBI single that plated Mazzilli. However, Soule battled back to retire the next two hitters to keep the Gophers ahead by one run.
Soule retired the first two batters of the eighth inning, and Matyas pitched the final 1.1 innings to close out the game.
Pettersen reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run, a double and an RBI. Bettenburg was also 1-for-2 with a run, while Geason was 1-for-4 with a run. Schultz also had an RBI, while O'Shea finished 1-for-4.
Connecticut was led by Mazzilli who went 2-for-3 with a run, while Friel went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Andreoli was also 1-for-4 with a run.
Minnesota will finish up its schedule at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge when it faces No. 20 Louisville on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. (CT). That game can be heard live in the Gold Zone
Phil Isaksson (Eau Claire, Wis.), Billy Soule (Hamel, Minn.) and Scott Matyas (North Prairie, Wis.) combined to limit Connecticut to a two runs on the night. Isaksson started and pitched five innings, gave up three hits, one unearned run, walked two and struck out three to take a no-decision. Billy Soule (Hamel, Minn.) picked up the win in relief, as he gave up three hits, one run and struck out three batters in 2.2 innings. Matyas came in and picked up the save, as he struck out a batter and pitched 1.1 shutout innings.
Connecticut starter Matt Barnes took the loss as he gave up three hits, three runs (two earned), walked three and struck out 11 in six innings of work. Dan Feehan and Brian Ward combined on two shutout ininngs of work out of the bullpen.
Connecticut got on the board early with a single run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. John Andreoli led off the game with a double, and moved to third when Nick Ahmed reached on an error on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Isaksson got George Springer to pop out into a double play to temporarily avoid damage, but uncoiled a wild pitch that plated Andreoli to make it 1-0. After walking Mike Nemeth and LJ Mazzilli to load the bases, Isaksson got Doug Elliott to pop out to end the inning.
Minnesota got a single run back in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 1-1. David Bettenburg (St. Paul, Minn.) drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a balk. With two outs AJ Pettersen (Minnetonka, Minn.) plated Bettenburg with an RBI double to tie the game at 1-1.
The Gophers took the lead at 3-1 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pettersen led off the inning with a walk and Kyle Geason (Eden Prairie, Minn.) singled through the right side to make it first and second. Nick O'Shea (Blaine, Minn.) delivered a single through the right side to load the bases with one out. Trip Schultz (Forest Lake, Minn.) followed with a ground ball to the shortstop. After the shortstop flipped it to second to get O'Shea, the Connecticut second baseman threw the ball into the dugout to allow Pettersen and Geason to score to make it 3-1.
Connecticut got a single run back in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 3-2. LJ Mazzilli led off with a single, and moved to third on a one-out hit-and-run single to right field. Mike Friel cut it to one run at 3-2 with an RBI single that plated Mazzilli. However, Soule battled back to retire the next two hitters to keep the Gophers ahead by one run.
Soule retired the first two batters of the eighth inning, and Matyas pitched the final 1.1 innings to close out the game.
Pettersen reached base twice, and was 1-for-3 with a run, a double and an RBI. Bettenburg was also 1-for-2 with a run, while Geason was 1-for-4 with a run. Schultz also had an RBI, while O'Shea finished 1-for-4.
Connecticut was led by Mazzilli who went 2-for-3 with a run, while Friel went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Andreoli was also 1-for-4 with a run.
Minnesota will finish up its schedule at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge when it faces No. 20 Louisville on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 9 a.m. (CT). That game can be heard live in the Gold Zone
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