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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Heads East for Series with Campbell
2/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| Minnesota (3-1) at Campbell (2-2) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Feb. 26 | 2 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Feb. 27 | 2 p.m. |
| Game 3 | Sunday, Feb. 28 | Noon |
| Location | Jim Perry Stadium | Buies Creek, N.C. |
| Live Stats | | | |
| Game Day Live | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Social Media | @GopherBaseball | Facebook | Instagram |
Fresh off a 3-1 showing in the opening weekend of the season, the Minnesota baseball team returns to action with a non-conference trip to Campbell, Feb. 26-28. The Gophers and Fighting Camels are set to square off in a three-game series over the weekend.
Coverage
All three games will feature a live radio broadcast put on by Campbell. Live stats are available on the baseball page of GopherSports.com.
Opening Weekend
The Gophers began the season 3-1 with wins over Utah (twice) and Utah Valley, before falling to No. 5 Oregon State, 8-7, in the finale of the neutral site tournament in Surprise, Ariz. Minnesota's 3-1 start is its best since 2014 (4-0).
Time for Liftoff
Sophomore Toby Hanson provided the "pop" in the lineup last weekend when he slugged 1.143 after launching two homers and two doubles. The slugger drilled his home runs over the 350-foot fence in right field in games against Utah and Oregon State.
Doing It All
Junior Matt Fiedler was the Friday night starter and paced Minnesota in the 6-2 victory over Utah. Fiedler tossed 5.2 innings and allowed just a pair of hits and one run while striking out three. At the plate, he went 3-for-4 and hit an RBI single.
Well-Balanced
In the first four contests, 13 different players recorded at least one hit and nine of those picked up multiple base knocks. Matt Fiedler and Toby Hanson led the way with nine and eight hits, respectively, while Terrin Vavra (six) and Austin Athmann (five) followed close behind.
Reaching Safely
Dating back to last season, sophomore Micah Coffey has gotten on base in his last eight games, including the first four of the 2016 season by virtue of four hits, two walks and one hit by pitch.
Freshman Impact
Six freshmen saw action in the Gophers' first set of games, with four of them making at least one start in the lineup. Riley Smith and Terrin Vavra each touted batting clips over .500, while Ben Mezzenga made his presence known on the basepaths with two stolen bases. Nick Lackney threw 1.1 innings of shutout ball in a relief appearance against Utah.
All-Time Series
Minnesota and Campbell will square off for the first time in program history. The Gophers have seen little of the Big South Conference, but have been successful, going 3-0 in all against the league.
About the Fighting Camels
After starting the season 2-0, Campbell dropped its last two contests against Miami (Ohio) and Duke. Infielder Anthony Lopez paces the club with a .375 average. Outfielder Brian Taylor is slugging at a .667 clip with a pair of doubles and a triple on the season. On the mound, Erik Dowse and Nick Thayer have yet to surrender an earned run and each have four-plus strikeouts. As a staff, Campbell has limited opponents to a .181 batting clip.
Drafted
Minnesota has one player who was taken in the 2015 MLB Draft in southpaw Dalton Sawyer. He was chosen in the 27th round by the Minnesota Twins.
Last Campaign
Minnesota went 21-30, marking just the second losing season under head coach John Anderson's tenure (34 seasons). Following a 20-35 record in 2008, the Gophers completed one of the top turnarounds in the nation, going 40-19 and making the NCAA Regional the following season.
Loaded Schedule
Minnesota plays seven teams who made the NCAA Tournament last year in Oregon State, Missouri State, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois and Indiana. The Gophers also play 12 teams who won 30-plus games in 2015.
Program Upgrades
Minnesota is receiving two upgrades this season. Its new state-of-the-art locker room has been ready for use for a few weeks and the new hitting facility will open midway through the season, right next to Siebert Field.
