University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Eric Miller, Gopher Athletics Photographer
Opponent Outlook: Big Ten Back at Siebert Field
1/9/2019 1:39:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – The defending Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament Champion Gopher Baseball team returns next spring after an historic season in 2018, looking to build on the success of an NCAA Super Regional run.
The path will not be easy with the team's home slate at U.S. Bank Stadium eliminated for the season and six NCAA Tournament teams on the docket in non-conference along with the tough 24-game B1G schedule. Today, we examine the team's home-opening series against Nebraska to close out the month of March and another Big Ten home series with Illinois two weeks later.
Scouting the Cornhuskers Website | @Husker_Baseball | Friday-Sunday, March 29-31, 4 pm/1 pm/1 pm
Nebraska (R.V.) finished 24-28 last year, missing the postseason with an 8-14 Big Ten Conference record … head coach Darin Erstad has led the Huskers since the 2012 season … Nebraska ranked sixth in the Big Ten with its .274 team batting average and fourth with 47 team home runs, but ranked 12th in both ERA (5.70) and tenth in WHIP (1.56) … junior outfielder Mojo Hagge is the top returning hitter for the Huskers, batting .275 in 47 starts last season while being the 67th toughest player to strike out last season (once every 10.5 plate appearances) … senior right-hander Matt Waldron returns after posting a 4.26 ERA in 17 appearances last year, including 12 starts. His 5.08-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked in the top-50 nationally … Nebraska has the slight edge, holding a 28-27-1 all-time record against Minnesota in the all-time series. The Gophers took 2-of-3 against the Cornhuskers last year in Lincoln on March 23-25.
Scouting the Illini Website | @IlliniBaseball | Friday-Sunday, April 12-14, 6:30 pm/2 pm/ 1pm
No. 34 Illinois closed out the 2018 season with a 33-20 overall record while going 15-9 to finish fifth in the Big Ten, seeing their season come to a close in the conference tournament … head coach Dan Hartleb returns for his 14th season as the head coach and 29th season on staff for the Illini …Illinois was sharp in the field, ranking 14th in the nation in fielding percentage (.979) and in the top-40 by turning 50 double plays … junior infielder Michael Massey returns to the line-up while receiving Preseason All-America recognition from Collegiate Baseball, batting .326 with 17 doubles, good for fifth in the Big Ten … junior shortstop Ben Troike was hit by a pitch 13 times, third-most in the Big Ten, getting on-base at a .402 clip last season while finishing a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen bases … junior Ty Weber and senior Quinn Snarskis both return to anchor the rotation for Illinois, combining to go 10-4 in 27 starts last season. Weber struck out 53 in 82.0 innings … the Gophers defeated the Illini 3-0 in the Big Ten Tournament last season on May 24, moving their all-time mark to 111-102-1 all-time against Illinois.
All game times listed as central. Rankings come from the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Fabulous 40 Preseason Poll.
Gopher Baseball season tickets are available now! The Maroon & Gold return to campus on Friday, March 29 against Nebraska. This 21-game package includes Minnesota's game against Oklahoma at Target Field on Saturday, April 20. Click here to purchase yours today.
Offseason Outlook 2019 Schedule
Surprise Baseball Classic: Gonzaga, New Mexico, Oregon State (Dec. 5)
Non-Conference Road Slate: Dallas Baptist, NC State, Long Beach State (Dec. 12)
Seattle Baseball Showcase & More: San Diego, Washington, Seattle, & Pepperdine (Dec. 19)
Beginning the Big Ten Road Schedule: Penn State & Michigan (Jan. 2)
Big Ten Back at Siebert Field: Nebraska & Illinois (Jan. 9)
Midweek in Minneapolis: NDSU, SDSU, Milwaukee, & Omaha
On Target: Oklahoma
More Big Ten Home Opponents: Ohio State & Maryland
Wrapping Up the Big Ten Slate: Indiana & Northwestern
The path will not be easy with the team's home slate at U.S. Bank Stadium eliminated for the season and six NCAA Tournament teams on the docket in non-conference along with the tough 24-game B1G schedule. Today, we examine the team's home-opening series against Nebraska to close out the month of March and another Big Ten home series with Illinois two weeks later.
Scouting the Cornhuskers Website | @Husker_Baseball | Friday-Sunday, March 29-31, 4 pm/1 pm/1 pm
Nebraska (R.V.) finished 24-28 last year, missing the postseason with an 8-14 Big Ten Conference record … head coach Darin Erstad has led the Huskers since the 2012 season … Nebraska ranked sixth in the Big Ten with its .274 team batting average and fourth with 47 team home runs, but ranked 12th in both ERA (5.70) and tenth in WHIP (1.56) … junior outfielder Mojo Hagge is the top returning hitter for the Huskers, batting .275 in 47 starts last season while being the 67th toughest player to strike out last season (once every 10.5 plate appearances) … senior right-hander Matt Waldron returns after posting a 4.26 ERA in 17 appearances last year, including 12 starts. His 5.08-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked in the top-50 nationally … Nebraska has the slight edge, holding a 28-27-1 all-time record against Minnesota in the all-time series. The Gophers took 2-of-3 against the Cornhuskers last year in Lincoln on March 23-25.
Scouting the Illini Website | @IlliniBaseball | Friday-Sunday, April 12-14, 6:30 pm/2 pm/ 1pm
No. 34 Illinois closed out the 2018 season with a 33-20 overall record while going 15-9 to finish fifth in the Big Ten, seeing their season come to a close in the conference tournament … head coach Dan Hartleb returns for his 14th season as the head coach and 29th season on staff for the Illini …Illinois was sharp in the field, ranking 14th in the nation in fielding percentage (.979) and in the top-40 by turning 50 double plays … junior infielder Michael Massey returns to the line-up while receiving Preseason All-America recognition from Collegiate Baseball, batting .326 with 17 doubles, good for fifth in the Big Ten … junior shortstop Ben Troike was hit by a pitch 13 times, third-most in the Big Ten, getting on-base at a .402 clip last season while finishing a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen bases … junior Ty Weber and senior Quinn Snarskis both return to anchor the rotation for Illinois, combining to go 10-4 in 27 starts last season. Weber struck out 53 in 82.0 innings … the Gophers defeated the Illini 3-0 in the Big Ten Tournament last season on May 24, moving their all-time mark to 111-102-1 all-time against Illinois.
All game times listed as central. Rankings come from the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Fabulous 40 Preseason Poll.
Gopher Baseball season tickets are available now! The Maroon & Gold return to campus on Friday, March 29 against Nebraska. This 21-game package includes Minnesota's game against Oklahoma at Target Field on Saturday, April 20. Click here to purchase yours today.
Offseason Outlook 2019 Schedule
Surprise Baseball Classic: Gonzaga, New Mexico, Oregon State (Dec. 5)
Non-Conference Road Slate: Dallas Baptist, NC State, Long Beach State (Dec. 12)
Seattle Baseball Showcase & More: San Diego, Washington, Seattle, & Pepperdine (Dec. 19)
Beginning the Big Ten Road Schedule: Penn State & Michigan (Jan. 2)
Big Ten Back at Siebert Field: Nebraska & Illinois (Jan. 9)
Midweek in Minneapolis: NDSU, SDSU, Milwaukee, & Omaha
On Target: Oklahoma
More Big Ten Home Opponents: Ohio State & Maryland
Wrapping Up the Big Ten Slate: Indiana & Northwestern
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