University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Illinois
Glowicki Ties Record as Gophers Defeat Illinois
4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Minneapolis, Minn. - Brian Glowicki tied the program record for most saves in a season when he closed out a 5-4 University of Minnesota win over Illinois Friday at Siebert Field.
The Gophers are now 25-12 overall and sit second in the Big Ten with a 9-4 conference record.
The Fighting Illini struck first in the top of the third inning. Their lead didn't last long as Minnesota responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Jordan Kozicky led off the inning with a single to left field but was then replaced at first base after fielder's choice off the bat of Terrin Vavra. Micah Coffey followed Vavra with a walk to put runners on first and second for Toby Hanson. The junior first baseman drove a 3-1 pitch over the right field wall for his fourth home run of the season to put the Gophers up 3-1.
Minnesota added another run in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Vavra once again reached on a fielder's choice following a Kozicky single. He then advanced to third base on a hit and run single by Coffey. Hanson singled up the middle for his fourth RBI of the game to make it 4-1 in favor of the Maroon and Gold.
The two teams swapped runs in the seventh inning as Kozicky scored on a Matt Stemper infield single. The run proved to be the go-ahead run as Illinois scored two runs in the ninth inning.
Lucas Gilbreath is now 5-0 on the season after starting on the mound for Minnesota. The junior lefty tossed 6.1 innings where he allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out seven batters.
Tim Shannon took over for 1.2 innings. He only allowed one hits and struck out two batters. Glowicki came in for the ninth inning and allowed two unearned runs on two hits. He struck out two batters en route to his 15th save of the season.
Up Next
The Gophers and the Fighting Illini will play a doubleheader tomorrow at Siebert Field beginning at 1 p.m. The second game will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the first game. Click here for parking information.
Game Notes
- Glowicki ties Scott Matyas's single season record of most saves.
- Kozicky was 3-4 and extend his on-base streak to 20 straight games.
- Five Minnesota batters recorded two or more hits.
- Hanson leads the team with 35 RBIs, he had four today.
- Gilbreath now has 64 strikeouts on the season.
