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Gopher Senior Class Excelled On and Off the Diamond
5/28/2019 11:15:00 AM | Baseball
The 2019 senior class enjoyed great success for Minnesota – two All-Big Ten honorees, an All-Region selection, and a combined 18 Academic All-Conference picks. These Gophers exemplify a commitment to excellence on and off the diamond. They produced a combined 145-85 record in the past four seasons, winning the Big Ten Regular Season and Conference Tournament Championships in 2018 with two appearances in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, including 2019. They have two NCAA tournament berths including Minnesota's first NCAA Regional victory in 40 years and its first-ever bid to the NCAA Super Regional round in 2018. They helped earn head coach John Anderson a pair of Big Ten Coach of the Year honors and were present for a pair of milestone victories for their head coach, both 1,200 and 1,300 wins.
Eduardo Estrada, Jr.
A slugger known for his bat and his sense of humor, Eduardo Estrada, Jr., or Eddie more commonly among his teammates, came to Minnesota from Litchfield. In his four years at Minnesota, Estrada has played in 129 games including 63 starts. He enjoyed a career year at the plate in 2019, batting .258 with career highs of seven home runs and seven doubles. In his career, Estrada batted .221 with 12 doubles and 10 home runs. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Business and Marketing Education.
Jeff Fasching
Another Gopher who performed at a career level this season, Jeff Fasching returned for a fifth season in the Maroon & Gold as a redshirt senior in 2019. A native of St. Cloud, Fasching never suffered a defeat on the mound, a perfect 4-0 in 56 appearances out of the Minnesota bullpen. This year, he posted an 1.53 ERA in 29.1 innings with 32 strikeouts. In his career, he has allowed opponents to hit just .239 with a 3.12 ERA in 75.0 innings. A 2018 Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Business and Marketing Education.
Nick Lackney
A move to the bullpen served Nick Lackney well in 2019 as he, too, threw the ball as well as ever in his Gopher career. The left-hander made 20 appearances this season with a 2.38 ERA, 4-4 record, with two saves and 49 strikeouts in 53.0 innings. The native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin is 11-7 with a 4.41 ERA in his career, making 65 appearances on the mound including 13 starts. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Family Social Science.
Cole McDevitt
A catcher turned first baseman for the Gophers, Cole McDevitt saw success at the plate no matter where he lined up. The Apple Valley native played in 167 games including 142 starts, batting .273 with 14 home runs, including a career-high nine last season. In 2017, he earned an All-Big Ten First Team honor. This year, he clubbed 16 doubles for 31 in his career and knocked in 98 career runs for the Gophers. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Business and Marketing Education.
Ben Mezzenga
An outfielder known for his defense and speed, Ben Mezzenga enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 where he showed he was capable of swinging the bat as well. He earned ABCA/Rawlings All-Region and Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. Mezzenga is a career .317 hitter in 176 career games including 127 starts around the outfield. The native of Shoreview has 32 stolen bases, 17 doubles, and 99 runs scored in his career. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he will graduates from the College of Liberal Arts with a degree in Communications Studies.
Riley Smith
A versatile utility player who started his career on the infield and then played just about every position on the diamond, Riley Smith began his career with a 2016 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection after batting .299 as a rookie. Playing all around the diamond this season, the native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma achieved a career high with nine doubles and stole eight bases for the first time in his career. A career .239 hitter, Smith scored 68 runs and drove in 41 for Minnesota. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the Carlson School of Management with a degree in Marketing.
Jake Stevenson
Another player who has enjoyed success after a move to the bullpen this season, Jake Stevenson set career highs of innings pitched and strikeouts. For his career, the Waconia native owns a 3-5 record, 5.77 ERA, and one save in 92.0 career innings with 75 strikeouts. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Sport Management.
Ryan Goll
A four-year student manager turned student assistant coach for Minnesota, Ryan Goll was invaluable to the Gophers during his career. From helping with equipment and laundry, advanced scouting, catching bullpens, and coaching first base, the Rochester native did it all for John Anderson's coaching staff. Goll already began the next step in his baseball career as he took a position with the Texas Rangers organization. He graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Kinesiology.
Eduardo Estrada, Jr.
A slugger known for his bat and his sense of humor, Eduardo Estrada, Jr., or Eddie more commonly among his teammates, came to Minnesota from Litchfield. In his four years at Minnesota, Estrada has played in 129 games including 63 starts. He enjoyed a career year at the plate in 2019, batting .258 with career highs of seven home runs and seven doubles. In his career, Estrada batted .221 with 12 doubles and 10 home runs. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Business and Marketing Education.
Jeff Fasching
Another Gopher who performed at a career level this season, Jeff Fasching returned for a fifth season in the Maroon & Gold as a redshirt senior in 2019. A native of St. Cloud, Fasching never suffered a defeat on the mound, a perfect 4-0 in 56 appearances out of the Minnesota bullpen. This year, he posted an 1.53 ERA in 29.1 innings with 32 strikeouts. In his career, he has allowed opponents to hit just .239 with a 3.12 ERA in 75.0 innings. A 2018 Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Business and Marketing Education.
Nick Lackney
A move to the bullpen served Nick Lackney well in 2019 as he, too, threw the ball as well as ever in his Gopher career. The left-hander made 20 appearances this season with a 2.38 ERA, 4-4 record, with two saves and 49 strikeouts in 53.0 innings. The native of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin is 11-7 with a 4.41 ERA in his career, making 65 appearances on the mound including 13 starts. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Family Social Science.
Cole McDevitt
A catcher turned first baseman for the Gophers, Cole McDevitt saw success at the plate no matter where he lined up. The Apple Valley native played in 167 games including 142 starts, batting .273 with 14 home runs, including a career-high nine last season. In 2017, he earned an All-Big Ten First Team honor. This year, he clubbed 16 doubles for 31 in his career and knocked in 98 career runs for the Gophers. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Business and Marketing Education.
Ben Mezzenga
An outfielder known for his defense and speed, Ben Mezzenga enjoyed a breakout season in 2018 where he showed he was capable of swinging the bat as well. He earned ABCA/Rawlings All-Region and Second Team All-Big Ten honors as a junior. Mezzenga is a career .317 hitter in 176 career games including 127 starts around the outfield. The native of Shoreview has 32 stolen bases, 17 doubles, and 99 runs scored in his career. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he will graduates from the College of Liberal Arts with a degree in Communications Studies.
Riley Smith
A versatile utility player who started his career on the infield and then played just about every position on the diamond, Riley Smith began his career with a 2016 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection after batting .299 as a rookie. Playing all around the diamond this season, the native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma achieved a career high with nine doubles and stole eight bases for the first time in his career. A career .239 hitter, Smith scored 68 runs and drove in 41 for Minnesota. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the Carlson School of Management with a degree in Marketing.
Jake Stevenson
Another player who has enjoyed success after a move to the bullpen this season, Jake Stevenson set career highs of innings pitched and strikeouts. For his career, the Waconia native owns a 3-5 record, 5.77 ERA, and one save in 92.0 career innings with 75 strikeouts. A two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, he graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Sport Management.
Ryan Goll
A four-year student manager turned student assistant coach for Minnesota, Ryan Goll was invaluable to the Gophers during his career. From helping with equipment and laundry, advanced scouting, catching bullpens, and coaching first base, the Rochester native did it all for John Anderson's coaching staff. Goll already began the next step in his baseball career as he took a position with the Texas Rangers organization. He graduates from the College of Education and Human Development with a degree in Kinesiology.
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