University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Defeat Ohio State and Purdue to Advance
5/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota fought off possible elimination twice on Friday, as it defeated fourth-seeded Ohio State, 9-4, and then posted a 1-0 win versus third-seeded Purdue to knock both teams from the Big Ten Tournament.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Tom Windle made a mark on both games, as he pitched the final three innings of the win versus the Buckeyes to record his second career save, then came back to start the second game and pitch five scoreless innings. Combined, Windle pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing eight hits and striking out six without a walk.
The contrast between the games was evident, as the Gophers pounded out nine runs on 11 hits to eliminate the Buckeyes, then had to scratch and claw for their lone run in the shutout win to send the Boilermakers home.
#5 Minnesota 9, #4 Ohio State 4 (Ohio State eliminated)
Minnesota fell behind 3-1 heading into the sixth inning of the game versus host Ohio State (26-27), but just as it did when it had an eight-run inning in Thursday's elimination game versus Penn State, the team put together a big inning by scoring six times in the sixth to stay alive at the Big Ten Tournament.
The Gophers jumped ahead 1-0 in the third when second baseman Matt Puhl led off with a single, moved to third on a pair of sacrifice bunts, and scored on a wild pitch.
But the Buckeyes responded with three runs in the fifth when they strung together four consecutive two-out hits, including an RBI double down the left field line by Brian DeLucia and a two-run single to center by Tim Wetzel to make it 3-1.
But that's when Minnesota's bats came to life, as the Gophers scored six runs on five hits to build a 7-3 lead. Shortstop AJ Pettersen got things started with a single to center on the first pitch he saw, and left fielder Andy Henkemeyer followed with a walk. Following a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, first baseman Nick O'Shea drove a single into right field to score both runs and tie the score.
With two outs and O'Shea at third, third baseman Kyle Geason crushed a ball into the left field bleachers for his first home run of the season and his first round-tripper since hitting one against Cal State Fullerton in the NCAA Regional on June 7, 2010.
When Troy Larson followed with a triple to left center, Ohio State was forced to make a pitching change, bringing in Theron Minium to replace starter Greg Greve. But on Greve's second pitch, Puhl drove a ball deep over the wall in left center for his second home run of the season to give the Gophers a four-run advantage.
The Buckeyes got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, as Josh Dezse scored an unearned run on a throwing error by catcher Kurt Schlangen to make it 7-4. But Minnesota added a couple insurance runs in the eighth on a bases-loaded single to center by Pettersen.
On the mound, Austin Lubinsky scattered seven hits over six strong innings to improve to 5-6 on the season. Lubinsky went six innings, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned), while striking out six and walking none.
Freshman left-hander Tom Windle came on to make his 18th relief appearance and earned his second career save by giving up just one hit and striking out four (no walks) over the final three innings. Combined, Lubinsky and Windle struck out 10 Buckeye batters without a walk in the victory.
Greg Greve was touched up for five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings and suffered the loss to fall to 3-3. Greve had a 15-inning scoreless streak snapped when Minnesota scored its first run of the game in the third.
#5 Minnesota 1, #3 Purdue 0 (Purdue eliminated)
Freshman left-hander Tom Windle continued what he started when he picked up the save in the win against Ohio State by making just his second career start versus Purdue, and he didn't disappoint.
Windle helped the Gophers win a pitchers' duel by going the first five innings without allowing a run during the 1-0 shutout victory against the third-seeded Boilermakers (37-20). He scattered seven hits and struck out a pair in a no decision.
The game remained a scoreless battle until the Gophers broke through with the lone run in the seventh. Center fielder Troy Larson led off with a single to left field, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Puhl, and advanced to third on a single to shortstop by Schlangen.
Purdue attempted to end Minnesota's scoring threat by bringing in All-Big Ten Second Team closer Nick Wittgren, but Pettersen greeted him with an RBI single to center on his first pitch to provide the Gophers with the winning run.
Cullen Sexton, Billy Soule, and Scott Matyas combined to work the final four innings for the Gophers, with Soule (3-2) earning the victory. Matyas, the Gophers' All-Big Ten First Team selection, recorded his 11th save of the season and the 36th of his career by holding the Boilers scoreless over the final two innings.
Matyas received some help from his defense in the top of the eighth when Barrett Serrato's one-out single to left looked as if it would score Tyler Spillner from second. But right fielder Justin Gominsky fielded the ball and made a strong one-hop throw to Schlangen at the plate, who spun and slapped a tag on Spillner for the second out despite protests from the Purdue fans.
Puhl combined to go 3-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI in the two wins, while Larson was 3-for-8 with three runs scored, and Pettersen was 3-for-8 with three runs batted in and one run.
Minnesota will play second-seeded Michigan State at 2:35 p.m. (CT) on Saturday. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network, and Minnesota's broadcast of the game can be heard for free in the Gold Zone.
