University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Missouri State
Gilbreath Starts Strong as Gophers Win
3/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minneapolis, Minn. - The University of Minnesota picked up their ninth win of the season as they continued their clutch hitting to win game one 5-2 over Missouri State.
Lucas Gilbreath made his fourth start of the season where he threw 5.0 innings. The junior lefty only allowed three hits, one earned run, three walks and struck out a season-high six batters. Gilbreath now leads the team with 18 strikeouts in 17.0 innings.
Tyler Hanson came in from the bullpen during the sixth inning and went on to pitch 3.0 innings. He only allowed one hit and struck out two batters while picking up his second win of the season. Hanson picked up career strikeouts number 59 and 60.
Closer Brian Glowicki entered the ninth inning with a three-run lead and retired Missouri State in order. He picked up one strikeout during the inning where he earned his fifth save of the season.
The Gophers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Following a Troy Traxler ground out, Jordan Smith stung a pitch through the left field side for a single. A few pitches later Smith swiped second base, his first steal of the season. Luke Pettersen would ground out to the first baseman but Smith advanced to third base. With two outs, Alex Boxwell drove the ball to the right center wall for a triple that scored Smith.
Minnesota tacked on one more run in the fifth inning to make it 2-0. Again the Gophers started on two outs with Pettersen reaching first base on a wild pitch that was called strike three. On the next pitch Boxwell was hit by the pitch to put runners at first and second. Freshman Eli Wilson blooped a single to right field to score Pettersen.
The Bears fought back in the sixth inning where they tied it up at 2-2. Two innings later the Maroon and Gold answered back with three runs of their own. Boxwell singled through the right side of the defense to lead off the inning. Next pitch hitter Ben Mezzenga singled through the right side with two strikes to put runners on first and third. The runners advanced when Terrin Vavra grounded out to the pitcher the Missouri State inentially walked Micah Coffey to fill the bases for Matt Stemper. The senior would go on to double down the left field to clear the bases and put the Gophers up for good.
Minnesota returns to U.S. Bank Stadium tomorrow for the second game of the series versus the bears, beginning at 2 p.m. You can follow the action this year by following the Gophers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Game Notes
- This was Boxwell's second straight multi-hit game.
- Stemper bumped his RBI total up to nine on the season.
- Hanson is 2-1 this season a 4.05 ERA.
- With one RBI tonight, Wilson now has three for his career.
- Six strikeouts is the second most in a game for Gilbreath.
