University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
36-13, 17-4
Rutgers
25-24, 7-15
Gophers Clinch Share of B1G Title with Shutout
5/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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PISCATAWAY, N.J. - After morning rain delayed the start of Thursday's series opener, the No. 12 Gopher Baseball team went to work quickly to shut out Rutgers 4-0 in just two hours, 27 minutes at Bainton Field.
No. 12 Minnesota (36-13, 17-4 Big Ten) clinched a share of the Big Ten Regular Season Conference Championship with its victory and Purdue's 3-0 victory over Michigan on Thursday night. The Gophers can win the championship outright with a victory in either of their last two games at Rutgers on Friday or Saturday.
Reggie Meyer (6-3) set down the first 15 batters and finished his day with just three hits allowed in 8.0 innings while striking out five. Minnesota scored in the third when Toby Hanson led off with a single, coming around to score on a single off the bat of Terrin Vavra. The Gophers then rallied for three runs on four, two-out hits in the fourth. Jordan Kozicky started it off with a double to left center, scoring on a single by Hanson. Luke Pettersen then added a single, and Ben Mezzenga doubled them both home.
Minnesota collected 11 hits on the day against John O'Reilly (5-4), who finished with 7.2 innings for Rutgers (25-24, 7-15 Big Ten). Tevin Murray held the Gophers hitless over the final 1.1 innings. After Reggie had thrown 93 pitches through eight, Max Meyer came in for the Maroon & Gold in the ninth, working around a lead-off hit with a strikeout and a groundball double play.
NOTABLE
Minnesota's pitching staff combined for its sixth shutout this season. The Gopher offense has not been shut out in its last 72 games dating back to last season ... Terrin Vavra extended his hitting streak to 12-straight games ... Luke Pettersen has now reached base in a team season-long 24 consecutive games.
UP NEXT
The series continues Friday between the Gophers and Scarlet Knights. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Meyer, Reggie (6-3)
L: O'Reilly, John (5-4)
Batting:
2B: Mezzenga, Ben 1 ; McDevitt, Cole 1 ; Kozicky, Jordan 1
RBI: Mezzenga, Ben 2 ; Vavra, Terrin 1 ; Hanson, Toby 1
SH: Pettersen, Luke 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pettersen, Luke 1 ; Kozicky, Jordan 1 ; Hanson, Toby 2
SB: Boxwell, Alex 1
Batting:
SH: Welsh, Kevin 1
Base Running:
SB: Harris, Jawuan 1
CS: Harris, Jawuan 1
