University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Kansas State
Gophers Drop K State Series Finale
4/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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April 29, 2015
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After one-hitting Kansas State Tuesday night, the Gophers fell 9-0 on Wednesday afternoon to split the series. The Wildcats (21-23) scored four runs in the first inning and Minnesota (19-22) never recovered.
Kansas State outhit the Gophers 10-5. Steve Serratore went 2-for-5 with one run, three RBIs and an eighth-inning home run. Brandon Erickson (2-2) pitched 3 1/3 innings and earned the win in a predetermined short start.
The Wildcats' first six batters reached base safely, with two walks, three singles and a hit batsman. The first hit was a bunt by Carter Yagi and the second by Tyler Wolfe deflected off pitcher Reggie Meyer (1-2) and drove in a run. A Serratore single through the right side plated a second run, and bases-loaded walk to Alex Bee a third. Tyler Moore hit a sacrifice fly to right for the first out and a 4-0 Wildcats lead.
Ty McDevitt then came out of the bullpen to get the next two outs with two men on base. He picked off Bee at first and induced a fly ball to right. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed one hit and one walk. Dalton Sawyer later chipped in 1 1/3 innings allowing just one hit.
In both the second and fifth innings, Minnesota had two base runners but did not score. Third baseman Tony Skjefte and catcher Matt Stemper singled in the second. Troy Traxler, pinch hitting in the designated hitter spot, led off the fifth with a single and left fielder Jordan Smith was hit by pitch.
Brian Glowicki's first two innings of relief were scoreless, aided by Stemper throwing out two would-be base stealers, with shortstop Michael Handel applying the tag on both. The Wildcats added two runs to their lead in the sixth on sacrifice flies following a double, hit batsman and wild pitch.
The Gophers loaded the bases in the eighth with no one out but did not score. Pinch hitter Jake Bergren walked, center fielder Alex Boxwell singled and pinch hitter Austin Athmann singled. Another pinch hitter, Kyle Crocker, hit a fly ball to right field. Dominic Thornton made a diving attempt and landed with his glove under him, so it was not immediately clear whether or not he caught the ball. The umpires did not make an out signal, so the Minnesota runners tried to advance, but Thornton threw out the lead runner at the plate. The next two batters struck out.
NOTABLE
Handel's reached base streak ended at 17 games. Center fielder Dan Motl, who is currently out with an injury, has the team's longest active on base streak at 18 games, including a 17-game hitting streak.
UP NEXT
The Gophers will host UC Irvine in a three-game series Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3. Friday's series opener is scheduled to begin at 6:35 p.m. CT.
