University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
North Dakota State
Bison Rally to Take Second Game Against Gophers
3/21/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2012
The University of Minnesota baseball team fell, 6-5, to the Bison, today at the H.H.H. Metrodome. With the loss, the Golden Gophers drop to 9-13 this season, while NDSU is off to its best start since 2002, and jumps up to 14-5.
Minnesota was led by Bobby Juan who went 2-4, including a double to start off the five-run seventh inning. David Bettenburg, Kurt Schlangen and Dan Olinger all went 1-4 with a RBI as Bettenburg also had a double. Michael Handel went 1-3 with a run scored and Andy Henkemeyer was 1-5 with an RBI.
The Bison pushed across a run in the second and another in the third to take the early 2-0 lead. Nick Anderson provided a sacrifice fly for the 1-0 lead and Zach Wentz drove in Tim Colwell with a RBI double after Tim Colwell tripled to lead off the inning.
Minnesota, however, added a five-run seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead. Juan and Bettenburg led the inning off with back-to-back doubles to make it 1-1. Schlangen then stepped up and drove home Bettenburg from second on a RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Handel got on base with an infield hit, putting runners on the corners after Schlangen stole second. A double steal by Handel and Schlangen gave the Gophers a 3-2 lead as Schlangen slide underneath the high throw from second. Henkemeyer then drove home Handel with an infield hit to push the fourth Gopher run across in the inning. Olinger added the last Gopher run when he singled to right center, scoring Matt Halloran from third.
NDSU, however, came right back and pushed four across in the top of the eighth for the 6-5 lead and the eventual win. John Skrbec had a two-RBI single with a drive to center field as he plated the Bison's third and fourth runs of the game. Nick Anderson followed with an RBI triple, while Tim Colwell also had a RBI double to give the Bison back the lead.
Minnesota had four pitchers make appearances in the loss. Ty McDevitt started in his first collegiate game and allowed two earned runs and had three strikeouts in 4.0 innings pitched. Jordan Jess held NDSU scoreless when he pitched 3.0 scoreless innings and allowed just one hit, three strikeouts and one walk. Billy Soule was credited with the loss and is now 1-2 on the season. Kevin Kray pitched 1.1 innings, held the Bison scoreless and allowed one walk.
Minnesota has played a game five straight days with a series win against Cal Poly (March 17-19) and fell to NDSU both days after a 7-0 loss (3/20). The Gophers will take a day off and get back in action against The Citadel this weekend. Friday's game is set for 6:35 p.m., followed by a 2:05 p.m. start Saturday and a noon start on Sunday.
