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Friday, March 26
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2:00 PM
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Minnesota Visits Nebraska to Open 2021 Road Slate
3/25/2021 9:34:00 AM | Baseball
Friday, March 26
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (0-1, 2.89 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Cade Povich (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
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Saturday, March 27 (Game 1)
Minnesota at Nebraska (7 Innings)
First Pitch: 12:00 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: LHP Jack Liffrig (1-1, 6.32 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: RHP Chance Hroch (2-0, 3.86 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
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Saturday, March 27 (Game 2)
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: RHP Patrick Fredrickson (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Jake Bunz (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
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Sunday, March 28
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 12:00 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: Trent Schoeberl (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: RHP Shay Schanaman (1-0, 5.54 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
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For the first time since May 18, 2019, the Gophers will travel for true road contests this weekend. Minnesota is set to take on Nebraska (7-4) in Lincoln for a four-game series, featuring a doubleheader on Saturday, March 27. Through the first three weekends of the season, Minnesota owns a 3-8 record, but the team is coming off of a win in their most recent game against Northwestern.
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SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota and Nebraska have faced off 60 total times in the history of the two programs, with the Huskers owning a slight 29-30-1 advantage in the all-time series. However, the Gophers have won four out of the last seven meetings, including taking two-of-three at Siebert Field in 2019. Minnesota claimed the first and third games of that series, but will head into Friday's contest on a one-game losing streak against Nebraska after dropping an 8-2 decision at the 2019 Big Ten Tournament.
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LAST TIME OUT
Having opened the 2021 campaign with 11 straight games at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Gophers dropped two-of-three to Northwestern at home last weekend. Minnesota fell in games one (4-3) and two (10-3), before rallying to win game three by a score of 7-3. Reliever Nolan Burchill earned the win in game three, while Patrick Fredrickson (3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 K) and Trent Schoeberl (2.2 IP, 0 H, 5 BB, 1 K) pitched quality innings for the U. Overall, the Gophers batted .202 as a team in the series while producing a 6.12 ERA on the mound.
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SCOUTING THE HUSKERS
Nebraska heads into this weekend's series with a 7-4 record and sitting in third place in the Big Ten standings. Most recently, the Huskers prevailed in a three-game series at Iowa last weekend, dropping game one but winning both of the final two games of the set to possess an active two-game winning streak. As a team, Nebraska is batting .260 and has a team ERA of 3.75.
Â
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
This weekend's series at Nebraska represents Minnesota's first true road competition since May 18, 2019. Since the team opened the first three weekends of 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium and played all of 2020 at either Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona or USBS, the Gophers have not visited an opponent at their home venue since the 2019 campaign. The last time the Maroon & Gold played a true road series, the Gophers went 2-1 against Northwestern (May 16-18, 2019). Minnesota produced an 11-12 overall record as the away team in 2019.
Â
GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH
Entering the season as a Preseason Second Team All-American after leading the nation with 31 hits in 2020, second baseman Zack Raabe has established himself as one of the nation's top offensive performers through the first three weeks of the 2021 season. Heading into the Nebraska series, Raabe is slashing .484/.600/1.032 with four home runs, one triple, three doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored. Raabe currently ranks among the top hitters in the nation in slugging percentage (fourth), batting average (12th) and on-base percentage (T12th). Meanwhile, the junior sits in second in the Big Ten in those three categories and is tied for fourth in home runs.
Â
DIAMOND DEFENSE
The Gopher defense has been a bright spot so far in 2021, with the team's .980 fielding percentage ranking third in the Big Ten.
Â
FREDRICKSON FINDING FORM
In Sunday's win over Northwestern, the right-handed Fredrickson fired three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit with one walk while striking out four. With the outing, Fredrickson lowered his season ERA to 3.00 and his batting-average-against to .227. The former 2018 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year has eight strikeouts across six innings of work this year.
Â
IRELAND ALL ACES
Serving as Minnesota's Friday night starter through the first three weekends of the season, the right-handed Ireland was excellent yet again in game one against Northwestern last weekend. For the second consecutive game, Ireland pitched into the eighth inning, finishing with 7 1/3 innings pitched while allowing just one earned run on five hits and two walks, striking out three. While earning his second straight quality start, the sophomore lowered his season ERA to 2.89. Across 18 2/3 innings pitched, Ireland has recorded 19 strikeouts and batters are hitting just .225 against him.
Â
YOUNG GUNS
In total, seven of Minnesota's 11 starts this season have been made by sophomores Ireland, Liffrig and Schoeberl. Four different sophomores and two freshmen have logged innings for the Gophers so far this season, as Brett Bateman, Noah DeLuga and Bennett Theisen have all seen mound work in addition to the aforementioned names.
Â
GOING STREAKING
Going into this weekend's series against Nebraska, catcher Chase Stanke possesses an active six-game on-base streak to pair with a five-game hitting streak. Prior to last weekend, Raabe held a 17-game on-base streak and 13-game hitting streak, but both of those runs came to an end in game one against Northwestern.
Â
FRESHMAN BIG FLIES
Having swung himself into a significant role in the Gopher lineup, freshman Cody Kelly launched the first two home runs of his career on March 20 against Northwestern. Kelly finished 2-for-3 and drove in all three runs for Minnesota in the game. The freshman is now slashing .240/.321/.600 through the first 11 games of the season.
Â
JOHN ANDERSON'S 40THÂ SEASON
The 2021 Gopher Baseball campaign marks head coach John Anderson's 40th season at the helm of the program. Having been hired in the fall of 1981, Anderson boasts 1,328 wins, 19 NCAA postseason appearances, 11 regular season Big Ten Championships, 10 Big Ten Tournament titles and eight Big Ten Coach of the Year awards. At present, Anderson ranks second in wins among active Division I head baseball coaches and 22nd all-time in the history of the sport.Â
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STANKE NAMED TO BUSTER POSEY AWARD WATCH LIST
Stanke was named to the 2021 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List on March 9. Stanke came into the campaign on the heels of a breakout summer in the Northwoods League, where he batted .310/.360/.470 with three home runs, 22 RBI and 14 runs across 100 at bats. As a result, Stanke was named a 2020 Northwoods League Postseason All-Star. So far in 2021, Stanke owns a .250/.372/.278 batting line with one double, four RBI and four runs scored while producing a .980 fielding percentage on the defensive end.
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2020 IN REVIEW
Minnesota concluded the 2020 season with an 8-10 overall record, concluding the year on a two-game winning streak. The Gophers notched signature victories against Oregon, Arizona, TCU, North Carolina and Creighton before the season was cancelled on Friday, March 13 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota posted a 6-8 record at home while playing at U.S. Bank Stadium and went 2-2 in neutral site games.
Â
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Raabe comes into the season as a Preseason Second Team All-American (Collegiate Baseball) after earning 2020 Second Team All-American honors. Raabe was also ranked by D1Baseball as the preseason No. 4 second baseman in the nation, while redshirt senior Jack Wassel was tabbed as the preseason No. 6 third baseman in the country. Wassel was also named to the 2021 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List.
Â
B1G DOMINANCE
Minnesota continues to dominate the Big Ten as it relates to NCAA Tournament appearances and offensive production. Minnesota's 32 NCAA Tournament Appearances rank first in the conference and are eight more than the next closest school (Michigan). As for the offense, 2020 marked the fourth time in the last five years that the Gophers led the B1G in both hits and total bases (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020). The Gophers are the only team in the B1G in the last 30 years to have led the conference in hitting for three straight seasons and have had more unique players hit .300 (18) than any other team dating back to 2016.
Â
B1G BATS BACK
After leading the Big Ten in hits and total bases again in 2020, Minnesota returns all six of the team's .300 hitters from last season. Raabe (.463), Otto Grimm (.400), Wassel (.364), Andrew Wilhite (.320), Ireland (.303) and Easton Bertrand (.302) all return for the Gophers and figure to receive regular at bats for the team. In total, Minnesota returns seven positional starters from last season, with shortstop being the only position to see turnover.
Â
NEW TO THE U
Minnesota welcomes six new players to the fold for the 2021 campaign, including five freshmen: outfielder/right-handed pitcher Bateman, left-handed pitcher DeLuga, catcher/outfielder Kelly, right-hander pitcher George Klassen and infielder Boston Merila. Redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Tom Skoro also joins the Maroon & Gold after transferring in from Mizzou.
Â
FAMILIAR FACES
Coupled with the newcomers are 31 returners to Minnesota's 2021 dugout, including positional starters at every position but shortstop.
Â
KEY DEPARTURESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In addition to losing third overall pick Max Meyer to the 2020 MLB Draft, Minnesota also bid farewell to redshirt senior Jordan Kozicky (graduation) and junior right-handed pitcher Sam Thoresen (free agent signee) on the heels of last season. Aside from those three players, Minnesota returns their entire 2020 roster.
Â
UP NEXT
Following the four-game series in Lincoln, the Gophers return home for their first series at Siebert Field since hosting Maryland from May 10-12 during the 2019 season. Minnesota will welcome Michigan State to Minneapolis for a three-game series spanning from April 2-4.
Â
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (0-1, 2.89 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Cade Povich (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Â
Saturday, March 27 (Game 1)
Minnesota at Nebraska (7 Innings)
First Pitch: 12:00 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: LHP Jack Liffrig (1-1, 6.32 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: RHP Chance Hroch (2-0, 3.86 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Â
Saturday, March 27 (Game 2)
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: RHP Patrick Fredrickson (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Jake Bunz (0-1, 3.38 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Â
Sunday, March 28
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 12:00 p.m. CT
Location: Lincoln, Neb.
Minnesota Starter: Trent Schoeberl (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
Nebraska Starter: RHP Shay Schanaman (1-0, 5.54 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Â
For the first time since May 18, 2019, the Gophers will travel for true road contests this weekend. Minnesota is set to take on Nebraska (7-4) in Lincoln for a four-game series, featuring a doubleheader on Saturday, March 27. Through the first three weekends of the season, Minnesota owns a 3-8 record, but the team is coming off of a win in their most recent game against Northwestern.
Â
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota and Nebraska have faced off 60 total times in the history of the two programs, with the Huskers owning a slight 29-30-1 advantage in the all-time series. However, the Gophers have won four out of the last seven meetings, including taking two-of-three at Siebert Field in 2019. Minnesota claimed the first and third games of that series, but will head into Friday's contest on a one-game losing streak against Nebraska after dropping an 8-2 decision at the 2019 Big Ten Tournament.
Â
LAST TIME OUT
Having opened the 2021 campaign with 11 straight games at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Gophers dropped two-of-three to Northwestern at home last weekend. Minnesota fell in games one (4-3) and two (10-3), before rallying to win game three by a score of 7-3. Reliever Nolan Burchill earned the win in game three, while Patrick Fredrickson (3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 K) and Trent Schoeberl (2.2 IP, 0 H, 5 BB, 1 K) pitched quality innings for the U. Overall, the Gophers batted .202 as a team in the series while producing a 6.12 ERA on the mound.
Â
SCOUTING THE HUSKERS
Nebraska heads into this weekend's series with a 7-4 record and sitting in third place in the Big Ten standings. Most recently, the Huskers prevailed in a three-game series at Iowa last weekend, dropping game one but winning both of the final two games of the set to possess an active two-game winning streak. As a team, Nebraska is batting .260 and has a team ERA of 3.75.
Â
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
This weekend's series at Nebraska represents Minnesota's first true road competition since May 18, 2019. Since the team opened the first three weekends of 2021 at U.S. Bank Stadium and played all of 2020 at either Tempe Diablo Stadium in Arizona or USBS, the Gophers have not visited an opponent at their home venue since the 2019 campaign. The last time the Maroon & Gold played a true road series, the Gophers went 2-1 against Northwestern (May 16-18, 2019). Minnesota produced an 11-12 overall record as the away team in 2019.
Â
GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH
Entering the season as a Preseason Second Team All-American after leading the nation with 31 hits in 2020, second baseman Zack Raabe has established himself as one of the nation's top offensive performers through the first three weeks of the 2021 season. Heading into the Nebraska series, Raabe is slashing .484/.600/1.032 with four home runs, one triple, three doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored. Raabe currently ranks among the top hitters in the nation in slugging percentage (fourth), batting average (12th) and on-base percentage (T12th). Meanwhile, the junior sits in second in the Big Ten in those three categories and is tied for fourth in home runs.
Â
DIAMOND DEFENSE
The Gopher defense has been a bright spot so far in 2021, with the team's .980 fielding percentage ranking third in the Big Ten.
Â
FREDRICKSON FINDING FORM
In Sunday's win over Northwestern, the right-handed Fredrickson fired three innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit with one walk while striking out four. With the outing, Fredrickson lowered his season ERA to 3.00 and his batting-average-against to .227. The former 2018 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year has eight strikeouts across six innings of work this year.
Â
IRELAND ALL ACES
Serving as Minnesota's Friday night starter through the first three weekends of the season, the right-handed Ireland was excellent yet again in game one against Northwestern last weekend. For the second consecutive game, Ireland pitched into the eighth inning, finishing with 7 1/3 innings pitched while allowing just one earned run on five hits and two walks, striking out three. While earning his second straight quality start, the sophomore lowered his season ERA to 2.89. Across 18 2/3 innings pitched, Ireland has recorded 19 strikeouts and batters are hitting just .225 against him.
Â
YOUNG GUNS
In total, seven of Minnesota's 11 starts this season have been made by sophomores Ireland, Liffrig and Schoeberl. Four different sophomores and two freshmen have logged innings for the Gophers so far this season, as Brett Bateman, Noah DeLuga and Bennett Theisen have all seen mound work in addition to the aforementioned names.
Â
GOING STREAKING
Going into this weekend's series against Nebraska, catcher Chase Stanke possesses an active six-game on-base streak to pair with a five-game hitting streak. Prior to last weekend, Raabe held a 17-game on-base streak and 13-game hitting streak, but both of those runs came to an end in game one against Northwestern.
Â
FRESHMAN BIG FLIES
Having swung himself into a significant role in the Gopher lineup, freshman Cody Kelly launched the first two home runs of his career on March 20 against Northwestern. Kelly finished 2-for-3 and drove in all three runs for Minnesota in the game. The freshman is now slashing .240/.321/.600 through the first 11 games of the season.
Â
JOHN ANDERSON'S 40THÂ SEASON
The 2021 Gopher Baseball campaign marks head coach John Anderson's 40th season at the helm of the program. Having been hired in the fall of 1981, Anderson boasts 1,328 wins, 19 NCAA postseason appearances, 11 regular season Big Ten Championships, 10 Big Ten Tournament titles and eight Big Ten Coach of the Year awards. At present, Anderson ranks second in wins among active Division I head baseball coaches and 22nd all-time in the history of the sport.Â
Â
STANKE NAMED TO BUSTER POSEY AWARD WATCH LIST
Stanke was named to the 2021 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award Watch List on March 9. Stanke came into the campaign on the heels of a breakout summer in the Northwoods League, where he batted .310/.360/.470 with three home runs, 22 RBI and 14 runs across 100 at bats. As a result, Stanke was named a 2020 Northwoods League Postseason All-Star. So far in 2021, Stanke owns a .250/.372/.278 batting line with one double, four RBI and four runs scored while producing a .980 fielding percentage on the defensive end.
Â
2020 IN REVIEW
Minnesota concluded the 2020 season with an 8-10 overall record, concluding the year on a two-game winning streak. The Gophers notched signature victories against Oregon, Arizona, TCU, North Carolina and Creighton before the season was cancelled on Friday, March 13 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesota posted a 6-8 record at home while playing at U.S. Bank Stadium and went 2-2 in neutral site games.
Â
PRESEASON ACCOLADES
Raabe comes into the season as a Preseason Second Team All-American (Collegiate Baseball) after earning 2020 Second Team All-American honors. Raabe was also ranked by D1Baseball as the preseason No. 4 second baseman in the nation, while redshirt senior Jack Wassel was tabbed as the preseason No. 6 third baseman in the country. Wassel was also named to the 2021 Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List.
Â
B1G DOMINANCE
Minnesota continues to dominate the Big Ten as it relates to NCAA Tournament appearances and offensive production. Minnesota's 32 NCAA Tournament Appearances rank first in the conference and are eight more than the next closest school (Michigan). As for the offense, 2020 marked the fourth time in the last five years that the Gophers led the B1G in both hits and total bases (2016, 2017, 2018, 2020). The Gophers are the only team in the B1G in the last 30 years to have led the conference in hitting for three straight seasons and have had more unique players hit .300 (18) than any other team dating back to 2016.
Â
B1G BATS BACK
After leading the Big Ten in hits and total bases again in 2020, Minnesota returns all six of the team's .300 hitters from last season. Raabe (.463), Otto Grimm (.400), Wassel (.364), Andrew Wilhite (.320), Ireland (.303) and Easton Bertrand (.302) all return for the Gophers and figure to receive regular at bats for the team. In total, Minnesota returns seven positional starters from last season, with shortstop being the only position to see turnover.
Â
NEW TO THE U
Minnesota welcomes six new players to the fold for the 2021 campaign, including five freshmen: outfielder/right-handed pitcher Bateman, left-handed pitcher DeLuga, catcher/outfielder Kelly, right-hander pitcher George Klassen and infielder Boston Merila. Redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Tom Skoro also joins the Maroon & Gold after transferring in from Mizzou.
Â
FAMILIAR FACES
Coupled with the newcomers are 31 returners to Minnesota's 2021 dugout, including positional starters at every position but shortstop.
Â
KEY DEPARTURESÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
In addition to losing third overall pick Max Meyer to the 2020 MLB Draft, Minnesota also bid farewell to redshirt senior Jordan Kozicky (graduation) and junior right-handed pitcher Sam Thoresen (free agent signee) on the heels of last season. Aside from those three players, Minnesota returns their entire 2020 roster.
Â
UP NEXT
Following the four-game series in Lincoln, the Gophers return home for their first series at Siebert Field since hosting Maryland from May 10-12 during the 2019 season. Minnesota will welcome Michigan State to Minneapolis for a three-game series spanning from April 2-4.
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