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University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Hosts Iowa for Big Ten Series
3/31/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| Minnesota (13-9, 0-0) vs. Iowa (10-12, 2-1) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, April 1 | 3 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, April 2 | 2 p.m. |
| Game 3 | Sunday, April 3 | 2 p.m. |
| Location | Siebert Field | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Live Video | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Live Stats | | | |
| Game Day Live | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Social Media | @GopherBaseball | Facebook | Instagram |
Minnesota kicks off conference play with a three-game set against rival Iowa this weekend, April 1-3, at Siebert Field. The Gophers come into the matchup having won their last three games, while the Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play by taking two of three from Maryland last weekend.
Projected Starters
Friday: Matt Fiedler (3-2, 4.15 ERA) vs. C.J. Eldred (2-2, 2.09 ERA)
Saturday: Dalton Sawyer (3-2, 3.90 ERA) vs. Tyler Peyton (0-3, 5.25 ERA)
Sunday: Toby Anderson (3-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. Calvin Mathews (0-2, 5.91 ERA)
Coverage
The series will feature the first two games to be carried on BTN Plus with the series finale on Sunday set to be broadcasted on BTN. All three games will have live stats available on GopherSports.com.
Promotions
Friday's game will feature free Gopher Baseball shirts for the first 50 fans in the gates, while students will receive Red Baron frozen pizza vouchers beginning in the seventh inning. On Saturday, a select number of players will sign autographs after the game along the first base dugout and Baseball Bingo will make its return with select prizes for the winners. At the conclusion of the series on Sunday, kids can run around the bases of Siebert Field.
Looking Back
The Gophers hosted in-state foe Saint Mary's for a non-conference duel on Wednesday. Minnesota emerged victorious by a score of 9-1. The Gophers used six hits with two outs to convert five runs and got solid pitching all afternoon en route to their third straight win and second at Siebert Field.
Pace the Pack
Overall, the Gophers have three players who rank near the top of the Big Ten in a plethora of statistical categories. Austin Athmann leads the league with 10 doubles and a .779 slugging percentage. He's also positioned in third with a .412 batting average and seventh with a .481 on-base percentage. Meanwhile, fellow batting teammate Matt Fiedler is in the league's top-10 in batting average (.389), hits (35) and complete games (one). On the mound, Dalton Sawyer ranks fifth among conference competition with 38 strikeouits in six starts.
Tear It Up
In his last five games, Connor Schaefbauer has been a menace at the plate by compiling 12 hits with five straight games with at least two hits. During the recent span, Schaefbauer holds a .571 batting average with three doubles, one triple, six RBI and eight runs scored, leading the Gophers in those repsective categories.
Youth of the Nation
The freshman class of position players have accounted for 18 percent of the team's total offense. At the front of the class is Terrin Vavra who has firmly entrenched himself as the starting shortstop thus far into the season with a .403 average that includes 31 hits and 14 RBI. Fellow infielder Riley Smith has seen action in 13 games and has contributed 11 hits, including four doubles and grand slam, to go along with five RBI. Eddie Estrada has made appearances at left field, first base and designated hitter and has contributed a .405 slugging percentage with seven RBI in 16 games played.
Strikeout Machines
Currently, Minnesota has a total of 159 strikeouts as a pitching staff. Dalton Sawyer and Matt Fiedler pace the team with 38 and 28 sit-downs, respectively. Other hurlers who have amassed double digit strikeout total thus far into the season include Toby Anderson (17), Tyler Hanson (14), Brian Glowicki (12) and Jordan Jess (11).
All-Time Series
Minnesota and Iowa have met 297 times in series history that dates all the way back to 1882. The Gophers hold a 180-117 margin overall. The Hawkeyes took all three duels in Iowa City last year and have won six of the last nine in the series.
About the Hawkeyes
Iowa limps in to the weekend having lost eight of its nine road games thus far into the 2016 campaign. The Hawkeyes most recently took two of three from Maryland last weekend to open Big Ten play. Nick Roscetti (.363) and Joel Booker (.337) pace the offense in batting average and the duo has combined for 15 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 30 RBI. On the mound, C.J. Eldred maintains a 2.09 ERA with a 2.7:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Two-way player Tyler Peyton has a .275 batting clip to go along with a 5.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
Lefties Galore
Minnesota boasts 16 left-handed hitters on its roster this season. That number is the highest among Power-5 schools, with Texas (15), Ohio State (14) and Virginia (14) the next closest. Terrin Vavra leads all left-handed hitters in Minnesota's lineup with a .403 average, while Micah Coffey (.325), Connor Schaefbauer (.325), and Luke Pettersen (.318) all tout hitting clips above .300 as lefties.
Contract Extension
Interim director of athletics Beth Goetz announced on March 4 that the University of Minnesota has agreed to terms on a contract extension with head baseball coach John Anderson through the 2021 season.
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.
Minnesota Heavy
The 2016 roster is highlighted by 66 percent of the players from inside the boarders of the state of Minnesota. Twenty-one players feature the highest number, with Wisconsin and Illinois close behind with four and three, respectively.
