University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Augsburg
Gophers Use a Four-Run Seventh to Get Past Augsburg
4/16/2013 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 16, 2013
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The University of Minnesota baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to defeat Augsburg College, 4-1, today at Siebert Field. With the win, the Golden Gophers improve to 23-13 overall, while the Auggies drop to 14-7 this year.
Mark Tatera delivered a pinch-hit, two RBI double to lead the Gophers. Ryan Abrahamson and Andy Henkemeyer also had two hits, while Henkemeyer, Tatera and Connor Schaefbauer added the Gopher RBI. Minnesota utilized six pitchers in the victory as Dalton Sawyer collected his first career win. Kyle O'Shea started the game and pitched three innings, followed by Kevin Kray (2.0 IP), Drew Ghelfi (1.0), Alex Tukey (0.2), Sawyer (1.1). Billy Soule earned his seventh save of the season when he pitched the ninth inning.
The Auggies got on the board to take a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. Gary Mariscal led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Gordon Kappers hit a single to score Mariscal and the eventual lone Augsburg run.
Minnesota, however, came back in the seventh to win the game. Abrahamson led off the inning with a single, while Matt Halloran provided back-to-back singles to put the runners on first and second. With a grounder to first the duo moved up a base. Schaefbauer delivered a single to push across the first Gopher run, while Tony Skjefte walked to load the bases. Tatera provided his 10th and 11th RBI when he plated both Halloran and Schaefbauer for a 3-1 lead. With the speedy Skjefte at third, Henkemeyer provided a perfect bunt down the left field line as Skjefte came to score the final Gopher run.
The seventh-inning momentum would be all that Sawyer and Soule would need to close out the game. Sawyer sent down the Auggies down 1-2-3 in the eighth. After Ryan Sward reached base on an error, Soule got Adam Carl to ground into a 4-6-3 double play and followed with a fly out to center to end the game.
Minnesota returns to Big Ten Conference action this weekend when Michigan State comes to town, April 19-21. Friday's game is scheduled for 3:05 p.m., followed by 2:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday, all at Siebert Field.
