University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
New Mexico State
Aggies Use Three-Run Ninth to Defeat Gophers
3/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 1, 2012
Heading into the top of the ninth inning tied, 1-1, the University of Minnesota baseball team fell to New Mexico State, 4-1, March 1 at the H.H.H. Metrodome. With the loss, it drops the Golden Gophers to 3-5 on the season.
Minnesota got on the board in the first inning. David Bettenburg started things off when he had a double just inside the right field line and into the corner. The Aggies committed an error as it bounced off a second base grounder hop, which scored Bettenburg from second as it trickled into the outfield.
Minnesota would hold the lead until the top of the sixth when New Mexico State got on board. As Zac Fisher reached on a Gopher error, Tanner Waite and Robert Lecount walked and was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bryan Karraker also walked as Fisher scored the tying run. Minnesota, however, had minimal damage in the inning with one out and bases loaded. After a Gopher wild pitch, NMSU tried to score, but Ben Meyer and Kurt Schlangen combined for an out at home plate. The Gophers then had Kurt Snowley ground out to leave two on the base paths and just one run.
NMSU would have another threat in the seventh inning when it had back-to-back singles, but Meyer had two of his four strikeouts in the inning to keep the game at 1-1. In all, the Aggies stranded 11 on base throughout the game.
Tied at 1-1 heading into the ninth inning, the Aggies plated three to earn their eighth win of the season. Fisher doubled to right center, which drove in both Kyle Phillips and Zach Voight as they singled earlier in the inning. Cody Edwards added another double in the inning as Fisher scored.
Minnesota used five pitchers to stymie the Aggie offense until the ninth inning, who outscored 2011 NCAA Tournament participant Sacred Heart, 71-22 in four games last weekend. Minnesota had appearances by starter DJ Snelten (pitched 3.1 innings), Ty McDevitt (1.1), Jordan Jess (1.0), Ben Meyer (2.2 innings and picked up the loss) and Billy Soule (0.2). The Gopher pitchers combined for eight strikeouts and three earned runs. Meyer was credited with the loss, while NMSU starter Michael Ormseth improved to 3-0 on the season.
Bettenburg went 2-3 with a run scored and a walk. Dan Olinger and Michael Handel each went 1-3, while Matt Puhl was 1-4.
The Gophers and Aggies will play again tomorrow night, this time as a part of the Dairy Queen Classic. The tournament begins tomorrow afternoon as Nebraska and West Virginia battle at 12:15 p.m. Minnesota and NMSU is scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m.
