University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers fall to No. 2 UCLA In Series Finale
2/17/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2013
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Minnesota mustered six hits to UCLA's 17. Andy Henkemeyer was 1-4 with a run scored, while Dan Olinger was 1-4 with a run batted in. Troy Larson was 1-3 and Bobby Juan came in to pinch hit and was 1-2. Michael Handel and Matt Halloran were both 1-4. Minnesota used five pitchers in the game. Jordan Jess started and was handed the loss. On a pitch count, Jess went 2.2 innings, followed by Lance Thonvold, Kyle O'Shea, Ty McDevitt and Kevin Kray. It was the second appearance this weekend for both McDevitt and Kray as they both pitched in Friday's 6-2, 10-inning win.
UCLA took control of the game early when the Bruins pushed across six runs in the bottom of the first. With a hit-by-pitch, a bunt single and walk, Pat Valaika singled for the first run of the game. After Brian Carroll scored on a grounder, Pat Gallagher doubled to score two. Darrell Miller Jr. had a ball land just fair along the right line to drop for a double. Minnesota had an error in the first to extend the inning. The Bruins batted around as Carroll singled to left. On the play, Ty Moore tried to go home from second and was caught on a 7-2 putout. However, the damage was done with the Bruins scoring six runs.
The Bruins scored a run in the fourth, sixth and seventh. Carroll scored on a Valaika single in the fourth, Gallagher walked in a run in the sixth and a sacrifice fly scored Trent Chatterton in the seventh inning for 9-0.
Minnesota threatened in the seventh inning when the Gophers had singles from Michael Handel, Matt Halloran and pinch hitter Bobby Juan to load the bases with one out, however, the Gophers couldn't get a run in.
The Gophers, however, erased the goose egg in the top of the eighth inning. Henkemeyer hit a double in left center that rolled to the wall. After David Bettenburg advanced the runner hitting a grounder to the right side, Olinger earned a RBI with a grounder to first and scored Henkemeyer.
However, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Bruins plated another five for the 14-1 final. Minnesota had the first two outs and an error extended the inning. Following the error, the Bruins had three doubles to score the final five runs.
Minnesota will open the home season against Western Michigan, Feb. 22-24. The Gophers will play Friday (6:35 p.m.), a doubleheader on Saturday, and Sunday (noon).
