University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 16
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP/1B
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Gophers Welcome Michigan to Siebert Field for Three-Game Series
4/15/2021 9:13:00 AM | Baseball
Friday, April 16
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 3:00 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (0-3, 3.82 ERA)
Iowa Starter: LHP Steven Hajjar (1-0, 2.80 ERA)
Watch: ESPNU
Saturday, April 17
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: LHP Jack Liffrig (1-2. 5.13 ERA)
Iowa Starter: RHP Cameron Weston (4-1, 3.25 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Sunday, April 18
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: TBD
Iowa Starter: LHP Jacob Denner (2-0, 3.81 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Minnesota (4-17) welcomes Big Ten foe No. 25 Michigan (15-7) to Siebert Field for a three-game series, spanning from Friday, April 16 to Sunday, April 18. Game one will air on ESPNU at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, while games two and three will stream live on BTN+ on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1893, Minnesota and Michigan have faced off an even 200 times, with Minnesota holding a 105-95 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines claimed the most recent matchup in 2019 by an 8-0 score, ultimately taking two-of-three games in Ann Arbor. Across the last 10 meetings, this series sits at an even 5-5 dating back to 2014. Minnesota last claimed a series victory against Michigan in 2016, when they swept a two-game road series against the Wolverines.
LAST TIME OUT
The Maroon & Gold spent last weekend in Iowa City, where they were swept in three games by Iowa. Despite a strong outing by Gopher ace Sam Ireland in game one, Iowa used six unearned runs to claim a 6-1 win. Following a Saturday rainout, Iowa took both ends of a Sunday doubleheader to claim the series.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan enters this weekend with a 15-7 record on the season and sitting in second place in the Big Ten standings. The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 25 in the nation by D1Baseball, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. Included in Michigan's season resume is a 4-3 record at home, while the team is 3-2 on the road and 8-2 at neutral sites. Coming into the series, the Wolverines are 6-4 across their last 10 games, having just taken two-of-three at home against Ohio State last weekend. As a team, Michigan's .271 batting average ranks fourth in the Big ten while their 3.89 ERA is good for third in the conference.
BACK AT HOME
This weekend, Minnesota will play at Siebert Field for just the second series since May 12 of the 2019 season, marking a span of 706 days. Most recently, the Gophers hosted Michigan State for a three-game set from April 2-4, going 1-2 against the Spartans highlighted by a 10-9 walk-off win in game two. Overall, Minnesota is 15-9 at Siebert Field dating back to 2019.
RAABE NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST
This past Wednesday, Preseason Second Team All-American second baseman Zack Raabe became one of 45 players across the nation and one of just two players in the Big Ten to be named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. After leading the nation with 31 hits in 2020 en route to Second Team All-America honors, Raabe is currently slashing .406/.500/.681 with four home runs, one triple, five doubles, 15 runs, seven RBI and one steal. Raabe's .406 batting average and .500 on-base percentage both lead the Big Ten, with his batting average sitting .23 points higher than the next-closest batter. Raabe also ranks seventh in hits (28), seventh in slugging percentage, 10th in walks (13) and 12th in total bases (47). Nationally, Raabe ranks 36th in batting average and tied for 33rd in on-base percentage.
BATEMAN BREAKOUT
Freshman outfielder Brett Bateman has started each of the last six games for Minnesota, earning a spot atop the Gopher lineup in five straight contests. Bateman owns a .379/.419/.483 batting line with three doubles, four runs, four RBI and one steal while playing errorless defense in center field.
IRELAND ALL ACES
Last weekend, Friday night starter Ireland fired six innings without allowing an earned run while striking out seven, lowering his season ERA to 3.82. Having started all six series-opening games for Minnesota, Ireland has 35 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings, owning a .237 batting-average-against. Ireland has worked six or more innings on three occasions and has thrown five-plus innings in five of six starts.
YOUNG GUNS
In total, 16 of Minnesota's 21 starts this season have been made by sophomores Ireland, Jack Liffrig and Trent Schoeberl. Four different sophomores and two freshmen have logged innings for the Gophers to this point, as rookies Bateman and Noah DeLuga have seen mound work as well in addition to sophomore Bennett Theisen.
JOHN ANDERSON'S 40TH 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 1,329 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.
STANKE NAMED TO BUSTER POSEY AWARD WATCH LIST
Starting catcher Chase 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 .282/.363/.324 batting line with three doubles, 10 RBI, eight runs and one stolen base.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Minnesota will play on national television on three occasions throughout the remainder of the regular season: April 16 vs. Michigan (3 p.m. on ESPNU), May 15 vs. Rutgers (6:30 p.m. on BTN) and May 30 at Purdue (3 p.m. on BTN).
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 canceled 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Cody 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.
FAMILIAR FACES
Coupled with the newcomers are 31 returners to Minnesota's 2021 dugout, including positional starters at every position but shortstop.
KEY DEPARTURES
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.
UP NEXT
Following the Michigan series, Minnesota will take to the road for two consecutive weekends, beginning with a three-game series at Indiana from April 23-25.
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 3:00 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (0-3, 3.82 ERA)
Iowa Starter: LHP Steven Hajjar (1-0, 2.80 ERA)
Watch: ESPNU
Saturday, April 17
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: LHP Jack Liffrig (1-2. 5.13 ERA)
Iowa Starter: RHP Cameron Weston (4-1, 3.25 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Sunday, April 18
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: TBD
Iowa Starter: LHP Jacob Denner (2-0, 3.81 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Minnesota (4-17) welcomes Big Ten foe No. 25 Michigan (15-7) to Siebert Field for a three-game series, spanning from Friday, April 16 to Sunday, April 18. Game one will air on ESPNU at 3 p.m. CT on Friday, while games two and three will stream live on BTN+ on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1893, Minnesota and Michigan have faced off an even 200 times, with Minnesota holding a 105-95 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines claimed the most recent matchup in 2019 by an 8-0 score, ultimately taking two-of-three games in Ann Arbor. Across the last 10 meetings, this series sits at an even 5-5 dating back to 2014. Minnesota last claimed a series victory against Michigan in 2016, when they swept a two-game road series against the Wolverines.
LAST TIME OUT
The Maroon & Gold spent last weekend in Iowa City, where they were swept in three games by Iowa. Despite a strong outing by Gopher ace Sam Ireland in game one, Iowa used six unearned runs to claim a 6-1 win. Following a Saturday rainout, Iowa took both ends of a Sunday doubleheader to claim the series.
SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan enters this weekend with a 15-7 record on the season and sitting in second place in the Big Ten standings. The Wolverines are currently ranked No. 25 in the nation by D1Baseball, Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. Included in Michigan's season resume is a 4-3 record at home, while the team is 3-2 on the road and 8-2 at neutral sites. Coming into the series, the Wolverines are 6-4 across their last 10 games, having just taken two-of-three at home against Ohio State last weekend. As a team, Michigan's .271 batting average ranks fourth in the Big ten while their 3.89 ERA is good for third in the conference.
BACK AT HOME
This weekend, Minnesota will play at Siebert Field for just the second series since May 12 of the 2019 season, marking a span of 706 days. Most recently, the Gophers hosted Michigan State for a three-game set from April 2-4, going 1-2 against the Spartans highlighted by a 10-9 walk-off win in game two. Overall, Minnesota is 15-9 at Siebert Field dating back to 2019.
RAABE NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST
This past Wednesday, Preseason Second Team All-American second baseman Zack Raabe became one of 45 players across the nation and one of just two players in the Big Ten to be named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List. After leading the nation with 31 hits in 2020 en route to Second Team All-America honors, Raabe is currently slashing .406/.500/.681 with four home runs, one triple, five doubles, 15 runs, seven RBI and one steal. Raabe's .406 batting average and .500 on-base percentage both lead the Big Ten, with his batting average sitting .23 points higher than the next-closest batter. Raabe also ranks seventh in hits (28), seventh in slugging percentage, 10th in walks (13) and 12th in total bases (47). Nationally, Raabe ranks 36th in batting average and tied for 33rd in on-base percentage.
BATEMAN BREAKOUT
Freshman outfielder Brett Bateman has started each of the last six games for Minnesota, earning a spot atop the Gopher lineup in five straight contests. Bateman owns a .379/.419/.483 batting line with three doubles, four runs, four RBI and one steal while playing errorless defense in center field.
IRELAND ALL ACES
Last weekend, Friday night starter Ireland fired six innings without allowing an earned run while striking out seven, lowering his season ERA to 3.82. Having started all six series-opening games for Minnesota, Ireland has 35 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings, owning a .237 batting-average-against. Ireland has worked six or more innings on three occasions and has thrown five-plus innings in five of six starts.
YOUNG GUNS
In total, 16 of Minnesota's 21 starts this season have been made by sophomores Ireland, Jack Liffrig and Trent Schoeberl. Four different sophomores and two freshmen have logged innings for the Gophers to this point, as rookies Bateman and Noah DeLuga have seen mound work as well in addition to sophomore Bennett Theisen.
JOHN ANDERSON'S 40TH 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 1,329 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.
STANKE NAMED TO BUSTER POSEY AWARD WATCH LIST
Starting catcher Chase 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 .282/.363/.324 batting line with three doubles, 10 RBI, eight runs and one stolen base.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Minnesota will play on national television on three occasions throughout the remainder of the regular season: April 16 vs. Michigan (3 p.m. on ESPNU), May 15 vs. Rutgers (6:30 p.m. on BTN) and May 30 at Purdue (3 p.m. on BTN).
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 canceled 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Cody 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.
FAMILIAR FACES
Coupled with the newcomers are 31 returners to Minnesota's 2021 dugout, including positional starters at every position but shortstop.
KEY DEPARTURES
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.
UP NEXT
Following the Michigan series, Minnesota will take to the road for two consecutive weekends, beginning with a three-game series at Indiana from April 23-25.
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15