University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Ohio State
Gophers Fall in Sunday game, 4-1
4/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 8, 2012
The University of Minnesota fell to Ohio State University, 4-1, today, in Columbus, Ohio. With the loss, the Golden Gophers dropped three straight to the Buckeyes and fall to 17-16 on the season and 3-3 in Big Ten Conference play. After a scoreless game through five and a half innings, the game broke open in the bottom of the seventh for the loss.
Minnesota was led in hitting by Michael Handel, who went 2-3 with a walk and RBI. Dan Olingerwent 1-4 as he scored the Gophers' lone run.
Austin Lubinsky was the Gopher pitcher and picked up the loss and is 1-3 on the season. He allowed two earned runs, two walks and four strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched. In the third inning, Lubinsky had a single go right off his hand in the third inning, but stayed into the game. Kevin Kray came in relief of Lubinsky and went 1.1 innings, allowed three hits, two runs. Billy Soule closed out the Gopher pitching today when he pitched an inning of work.
Ohio State's John Kuchno earned the win in 6.0 innings of work. He allowed just one hit and six strikeouts to stymie the Gopher hitters. Also seeing action was Andrew Armstrong (0.2), David Fathalikhani (1.1) and Greg Greve, who picked up his first save of the year.
Ohio State broke the scoreless tie when the Buckeyes pushed across two in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Brad Hallberg had a leadoff walk, he would come in to score on a grounder to third. Josh Dezse also came around to score as Mike Carroll singled to left to make it 2-0.
Minnesota would cut the deficit to one in the top of the seventh. Dan Olinger started things off with a single up the middle. After Matt Puhl walk, Michael Handel drove home Olinger on a single to center. David Bettenburg followed with a single, but Puhl was called out at home to end the Gopher threat.
OSU, however, came right back and plated another two in the bottom of the seventh. Tim Wetzel lifted a solo home run to right field, while Patrick Porter drove home Ryan Cypret off of a double.
Minnesota will try to get back to the win column on Wed, April 11 as the Gophers travel to Brookings, S.D. and South Dakota State at 3 p.m. Minnesota then hosts Northwestern, April 13-15 at the Metrodome. The first game Friday against the Wildcats will be at 6:35 p.m., followed by a 2:05 p.m. start Saturday and a 1:05 p.m. start Sunday.
