University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Welcomes Kansas for Two
5/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
| No. 19 Minnesota (27-13, 11-3 Big Ten) vs. Kansas (19-24-1 Big 12) | |
| Game 1 | Tuesday, May 3 | 6:30 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Wednesday, May 4 | 1:30 p.m. |
| Location | Siebert Field | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Live Video | BTN Plus: Game 1 | Game 2 |
| Live Stats | | |
| Game Day Live | Game 1 | Game 2 |
| Social Media | @GopherBaseball | Facebook | Instagram |
Fresh off a seven-game road trip, the 19th-ranked Gophers welcome Kansas for a two-game series on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to open a five-game homestand at Siebert Field.
Former football head coach Jerry Kill will throw out a ceremonial first pitch on Tuesday night.
Fan Advisory
Fans planning to attend the games should be aware that the main parking option for the general public will be the 4th St. ramp. All fans entering will do so at the 8th Street gate. A-Frame signage will be displayed on 15th Ave. and 8th St. to help direct patrons.
Coverage
Both games can be streamed on BTN Plus from a single-cam production. Live stats will be available on the baseball page of GopherSports.com.
Promotions
Tuesday - National Teacher Appreciation Day: teachers of all kinds can show ID at the marketing/promotions table for a free Gophers lanyard.
Wednesday - Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day: check in and show U-Card at promotions table for free Gophers lanyard and cake while supplies last.
Last Time Out
Minnesota took two of three at Big Ten foe Illinois last weekend and maintained its lead on top of the league standings. The Gophers set a season-high in the series finale with 14 runs and tied a 2016-best mark with 18 hits. Alex Boxwell led the way at the dish by almost hitting for a cycle as he fell just a double short. Matt Fiedler and Toby Anderson earned wins on the mound to pace the pitching staff that has lowered its ERA to 3.83 overall and 2.74 in Big Ten play.
Milestone Maker
Head coach John Anderson currently sits with 1,199 wins to his name. With a win, he would reach the 1,200 milestone. Anderson would become just the 24th coach ever to accomplish the feat and the ninth to do it all at one school. He has spent his entire 35-year career patrolling the dugout as the lead man for the Minnesota program.
What a Month
The month of April was one to remember for the Gophers this season. Minnesota outscored its opponents by 47 runs en route to 13 victories, including 10 in conference action. The Maroon and Gold averaged 10.5 hits per game which was the catalyst for eight different players have a .300 batting average or higher. The pitching staff maintained a 2.86 team ERA in the 17 contests and posted 10 performances holding the opposition to three or fewer runs. Overall, Minnesota won all four its series which included road sweeps at No. 25 Michigan and Northwestern.
Starting Strong
Toby Anderson, Matt Fiedler and Dalton Sawyer have been on a tear since being established as the weekend rotation. All three hold ERA marks below 3.80 in a combined 29 starts. In 181.2 innings pitched, the trio has amassed 152 strikeouts compared to just 69 walks. Anderson, Fiedler and Sawyer hold a combined record of 18-7 in 2016.
Thinking Outside the Box
Alex Boxwell has emerged as a potent bat in the lineup in conference play. His .500 batting average currently paces the league in 13 games of action. Boxwell has slugged at a .781 clip and held a .564 on-base percentage in Big Ten contests. He's accumulated four doubles, one triple and one homer while crossing the plate 10 times for the Gophers.
All-Time Series
Minnesota and Kansas have dueled seven times in series history. The Gophers hold a slim 4-3 advantage all-time. The Jayhawks took the last meeting in 2012 with a 9-4 decision. Minnesota rattled off four runs in its opening chance at the plate, but Kansas scored eight runs in the second stanza to guide the road team to victory at the Metrodome.
About the Jayhawks
Kansas has won two of its last three games on the heels of a series victory against Oklahoma last weekend. The Jayhawks and Gophers have a few common opponents in Missouri State, Oregon State and Utah. While Minnesota is 4-2 against the triad, Kansas is just the reverse at 2-4 with one win coming against both Missouri State and Utah. Michael Tinsley leads the team with a .393 batting average, 15 doubles and 34 RBI at the dish. Devin Foyle (29), Colby Wright (26) and Matt McLaughlin (20) each have contributed 20-plus RBI so far in 2016. Foyle has also amassed four triples and five triples. On the mound, Stephen Villines holds a 5-2 record and has recorded four saves out of the bullpen. He holds a team-low 1.91 ERA in 33.0 innings pitched this season.
We Need Gills
Lucas Gilbreath has made a massive difference in the bullpen in his eight appearances. The southpaw has yet to surrender an earned run in 13.2 innings, has struck out 20 batters and is holding clubs to a .241 batting average this season.
Good Things Come in Two
So far in 2016, there have been 130 instances where a Gopher has tallied a multi-hit game. Matt Fiedler leads the way with 22, while Connor Schaefbauer (15), Dan Motl (15) and Austin Athmann (14) are close behind. Athmann has the team-high with five hits in one game. Terrin Vavra has netted a pair of four-hit performances, while Riley Smith added another in his first career start.
Strikeout King
Minnesota's Dalton Sawyer has made his senior season one to remember. He currently leads the team and ranks in the top-50 in the nation with 76 strikeouts. Sawyer needs just 12 strikeouts to reach the top-10 for send-downs in a single season.
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 .390 average, while Alex Boxwell (.379) and Connor Schaefbauer (.322) all tout averages above the .300 mark.
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.
