University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ready to Continue Homestand With Cal Poly
3/16/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2012
| Minnesota vs Cal Poly | |
| Tickets | Purchase Online |
| Date | Sat.-Mon., March 17-19, 2012 |
| Time | 6:35 p.m.(Sat.), 2:05 p.m. (Sun.), 1:30 p.m. (Mon.) |
| Location | H.H.H. Metrodome |
| Video | Gopher All-Access |
| Audio | GopherSports.com (Listen Online) |
PROJECTED PITCHING MATCH-UP
CP Joey Wagman (Jr., RHP) vs MN: TJ Oakes (Jr. RHP)
CP LHP Kyle Anderson (Sr., LHP) vs. DJ Snelten or Tom Windle (both So., LHP)
CP Kyle Brueggemann (Jr., RHP) vs MN Austin Lubinsky (Sr. RHP)
CAL POLY NOTES
• Minnesota dropped the first game against Cal Poly last year in a 5-1 loss on March 25, but rebounded for a win against the Mustangs the next day, 9-4.
• Cal Poly is the Gophers' only Big West opponent during the regular season this year. In non-conference action, Cal Poly holds the Big West's best overall record at 11-5. Also in the Big West is Cal State Fullerton (10-6), UC Irvine (9-8), UC Davis (8-8), Cal State Northridge (8-9), UC Santa Barbara (8-9), UC Riverside (6-9), Long Beach State (5-10) and Pacific (3-13).
• Minnesota is 17-13 alltime against current Big West teams. Prior to Minnesota's play against Cal Poly last year, the Gophers's last Big West opponent was against Cal State Fullerton in the NCAA Tournament in 2010. Of the nine teams in the Big West, Minnesota has faced seven of the teams in school history, with only UC Davis and UC Riverside the only teams Minnesota has not faced in the Big West.
WHERE THEY RANK
TJ Oakes and Dan Olinger rank high nationally in earned run average and doubles. In four appearances, Oakes ranks 26th nationally with a 0.72 ERA. Of the 25 that rank ahead of him, only 10 have pitched in more innings than Oakes. In his 25.0 innings pitched, Oakes has allowed just three runs, two of which have been earned. He's also struck out a team-high 16 batters this season. As a team, Minnesota ranks 57th nationally in ERA. Olinger has hit eight doubles this season, ranking in a tie for 28th nationally. The NCAA statistics are compiled weekly and can be found http://www.ncaa.com/stats/baseball/d1
KEEP IT GOIN'
Dan Olinger is currently on an 11-game hit streak. As a red-shirt sophomore, his longest streak last year as a rookie was four-straight games. On the year, Olinger leads the team with a .400 batting average, eight doubles an on-base percentage of.438 and 26 hits, leading the team in all categories. As a freshman, Olinger played in 39 games and had 27 hits, three doubles and 18 RBI. Last year, former Gophers AJ Pettersen and Justin Gominsky had the longest hit streak, set at 19 and 11 games, respectively.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR
TJ Oakes faced Cal Poly last year and recorded the loss against the Mustangs. With the loss to Cal Poly, Oakes was 1-3 on the season. This year, he enters the Cal Poly series 4-0 on the season. His last win came against Stony Brook in the 7-1 win last Saturday. As a team, Minnesota held an 8-8 overall record. Three games were scheduled to be played against Cal Poly, but due to weather, the second game was canceled.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
Cal Poly is off to an 11-5 start this year and won its last series against Washington with two of three wins. Ranked as high at 22 in the Collegiate Baseball poll this season, the Mustangs are currently receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll. Cal Poly kicked off the 2012 season with a three-game sweep over Oklahoma State (2/17-19) and would later earn a four-game sweep over Loyola Marymount. Cal Poly has three hitters over the .300 batting average in team leader Nick Torres, Jimmy Allen and Mike Miller. In 16 games played, Torres is batting .381 and has a team-best on-base percentage of .435. He has 15 RBI and eight doubles this year. Allen is batting .356 with 11 RBI, while Miller is .352 with 10 RBI. Leading the team in home runs and RBI is Mitch Haniger with 18 RBI and three home runs, batting .290 this year. Left-handed pitcher Kyle Anderson ranks 22nd nationally with a 0.70 ERA and is 3-0 this season. Right-hander Joey Wagman holds a 2.22 ERA and is 3-1 this year. Kyle Brueggemann, another righthander, is 2-1 this year and holds a 5.68 ERA in four starts.
THE LAST TIME
The Gophers and the Mustangs split their action last year, each winning a game, while the third was in a rain out. In the first game, Minnesota fell, 5-1 on March 25 at Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo, Calif. In the loss, Minnesota was led by Andy Henkemeyer who went 1-for-4 with a double an RBI. Cal Poly starter Steven Fischback pitched seven innings, gave up three hits, one run, did not walk a batter and struck out nine. Eugene Wright and Jeff Johnson closed the door on Minnesota in the eighth and ninth. For the game, Mustang pitchers had 12 strikeouts.
Minnesota rebounded with a 9-4 win to split action on March 27. Minnesota was led by Trip Schultz who went 3-for-4 with a run and four RBI. Troy Larson was also 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI, while Matt Puhl finished 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Minnesota had eight different players collect hits, as a the Gophers pounded out 16 hits as a team. Former Gopher Phil Isaksson started and gave up four hits and one run. Austin Lubinsky picked up the win in relief as he gave up four hits, three runs, walked one and struck out three batters in 2.1 innings. Cal Poly starter Mason Radeke gave up five hits, one run, one walk and struck out three batters in three innings for a no-decision. Kyle Anderson gave up two hits, one run, walked two and struck out one in one inning.
