University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 2
4:00 PM
University of Minnesota
3-13, 0
6
vs
7
Michigan State
8-8, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
1
0
0
4
0
1
1
7
11
2
Minnesota Gophers
0
0
0
4
1
0
1
0
0
6
9
2
Gophers Drop Game One to Michigan State
4/2/2021 9:22:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota baseball (3-13) dropped game one of their three-game series against Michigan State (8-8) on Friday evening by a score of 7-6.
With the return to Siebert Field to host the Spartans, Friday's contest marked Minnesota's first official game at their true home venue in 692 days.
Starting pitchers Sam Ireland and Mason Erla cruised through the first two frames, each putting zeros on the scoreboard for their respective teams. After retiring the first six batters of the game, Ireland gave up a leadoff single in the third followed by an RBI double to Brock Vradenburg as the Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota responded quickly, however, putting together a four-run fourth inning highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Chase Stanke. After taking a 2-1 lead thanks to Stanke's clutch extra-base hit, the Gophers plated two more runs on a fielding error by Michigan State third baseman Zach Iverson followed by a Brett Bateman fielder's choice that scored Gabe Knowles.
With a 4-1 lead in hand, Stanke tacked on another run for the Gophers in the fifth, driving in Zack Raabe as he reached on a fielding error by shortstop Mitch Jebb.
Having fallen behind, 5-1, Michigan State roared back in the sixth with a four-run inning of their own. A wild pitch brought home the first Spartan run, while Jebb delivered a two-run double to right-center to bring the Spartans within one run. Trent Farquar then knotted the game up by driving Jebb in with an RBI double to right-center.
In the seventh inning, Stanke put the Gophers back on top, 6-5. With Raabe on third, Stanke used an infield single to bring him home, effectively registering a new career high with his fourth RBI of the game.
Thereafter, Michigan State took hold of the game. Farquar came across to score in the eighth inning on a Bryce Kelley sacrifice fly, knotting the game back up at six runs apiece. The Spartans then pushed the go-ahead and eventual winning run home in the top of the ninth, as Zaid Walker scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jack Frank.
Minnesota reliever Ryan Duffy was saddled with the loss, pitching 1 1/3 innings with one earned run allowed on one walk while striking out four. Having started the game on the mound, Ireland lasted five-plus innings and surrendered five earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five.
Once again, Josh Culliver provided quality innings for the Gophers out of the bullpen. The senior right-hander tossed two innings, allowing zero runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two.
Michigan State reliever Burrell Jones earned the victory, contributing two scoreless innings of relief on one hit and one walk. Erla received a no-decision, having pitched five innings with five runs (four earned) allowed on six hits and two walks, striking out seven.
Offensively for Minnesota, Raabe and Stanke were the lone Gophers to collect multiple hits in the game. Raabe finished 4-for-4, reaching base in all five of his trips to the plate. Raabe scored three runs and also drew a walk in the loss. Meanwhile, Stanke went 2-for-5 with one double.
Quotable
"It was nice to be out here at Siebert Field, it's been a long time," head coach John Anderson said. "I thought we had a good start to the ballgame. We had a lead, but we walked four guys today that scored. That's really the difference in the game. We didn't execute a pick-off that put a runner in scoring position. That's how you get beat in baseball, when you walk people and make mistakes on defense. I feel like we're competing and battling, and I was really pleased to see Brett Bateman get an opportunity to get out there and start. I think he's going to be a really good player for us as he gains some experience."
Notable
Raabe reached base in all five of his trips to the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with three runs and one walk. With the performance, Raabe improved his season batting line to .458/.559/.833 across 48 at bats.
Stanke registered a career-high four RBI in the game, going 2-for-5 with one double and one run scored.
Up Next
Minnesota and Michigan State will meet again for game two of their three-game series on Saturday, April 3 at 1 p.m. CT.
With the return to Siebert Field to host the Spartans, Friday's contest marked Minnesota's first official game at their true home venue in 692 days.
Starting pitchers Sam Ireland and Mason Erla cruised through the first two frames, each putting zeros on the scoreboard for their respective teams. After retiring the first six batters of the game, Ireland gave up a leadoff single in the third followed by an RBI double to Brock Vradenburg as the Spartans jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota responded quickly, however, putting together a four-run fourth inning highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Chase Stanke. After taking a 2-1 lead thanks to Stanke's clutch extra-base hit, the Gophers plated two more runs on a fielding error by Michigan State third baseman Zach Iverson followed by a Brett Bateman fielder's choice that scored Gabe Knowles.
With a 4-1 lead in hand, Stanke tacked on another run for the Gophers in the fifth, driving in Zack Raabe as he reached on a fielding error by shortstop Mitch Jebb.
Having fallen behind, 5-1, Michigan State roared back in the sixth with a four-run inning of their own. A wild pitch brought home the first Spartan run, while Jebb delivered a two-run double to right-center to bring the Spartans within one run. Trent Farquar then knotted the game up by driving Jebb in with an RBI double to right-center.
In the seventh inning, Stanke put the Gophers back on top, 6-5. With Raabe on third, Stanke used an infield single to bring him home, effectively registering a new career high with his fourth RBI of the game.
Thereafter, Michigan State took hold of the game. Farquar came across to score in the eighth inning on a Bryce Kelley sacrifice fly, knotting the game back up at six runs apiece. The Spartans then pushed the go-ahead and eventual winning run home in the top of the ninth, as Zaid Walker scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jack Frank.
Minnesota reliever Ryan Duffy was saddled with the loss, pitching 1 1/3 innings with one earned run allowed on one walk while striking out four. Having started the game on the mound, Ireland lasted five-plus innings and surrendered five earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five.
Once again, Josh Culliver provided quality innings for the Gophers out of the bullpen. The senior right-hander tossed two innings, allowing zero runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two.
Michigan State reliever Burrell Jones earned the victory, contributing two scoreless innings of relief on one hit and one walk. Erla received a no-decision, having pitched five innings with five runs (four earned) allowed on six hits and two walks, striking out seven.
Offensively for Minnesota, Raabe and Stanke were the lone Gophers to collect multiple hits in the game. Raabe finished 4-for-4, reaching base in all five of his trips to the plate. Raabe scored three runs and also drew a walk in the loss. Meanwhile, Stanke went 2-for-5 with one double.
Quotable
"It was nice to be out here at Siebert Field, it's been a long time," head coach John Anderson said. "I thought we had a good start to the ballgame. We had a lead, but we walked four guys today that scored. That's really the difference in the game. We didn't execute a pick-off that put a runner in scoring position. That's how you get beat in baseball, when you walk people and make mistakes on defense. I feel like we're competing and battling, and I was really pleased to see Brett Bateman get an opportunity to get out there and start. I think he's going to be a really good player for us as he gains some experience."
Notable
Raabe reached base in all five of his trips to the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with three runs and one walk. With the performance, Raabe improved his season batting line to .458/.559/.833 across 48 at bats.
Stanke registered a career-high four RBI in the game, going 2-for-5 with one double and one run scored.
Up Next
Minnesota and Michigan State will meet again for game two of their three-game series on Saturday, April 3 at 1 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones,Burrell (1-0)
L: Duffy, Ryan (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Farquhar,Trent 1 ; Stewart,Joe 1 ; Jebb,Mitch 1 ; Vradenburg,Brock 1
RBI: Farquhar,Trent 1 ; Kelley,Bryce 1 ; Jebb,Mitch 2 ; Frank,Jack 1 ; Vradenburg,Brock 1
SH: Sotres,Gabe 1
SF: Kelley,Bryce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Farquhar,Trent 1 ; Stewart,Joe 1 ; Iverson,Zach 1 ; Walker,Zaid 2 ; Jebb,Mitch 1 ; Frank,Jack 1
SB: Stewart,Joe 1 ; Walker,Zaid 3 ; Frank,Jack 1
HBP: Sotres,Gabe 1
Batting:
2B: Stanke, Chase 1
RBI: Stanke, Chase 4 ; Bateman, Brett 1
SH: Wilhite, Andrew 1 ; Wassel, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Raabe, Zack 3 ; Sweeny, Ronald 1 ; Stanke, Chase 1 ; Knowles, Gabe 1
SB: Bateman, Brett 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
4
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP/1B
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballFirst 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