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Gophers Head to Iowa for Three-Game Series
4/8/2021 9:33:00 AM | Baseball
Friday, April 9
Minnesota at Iowa
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (0-2, 4.60 ERA)
Iowa Starter: LHP Trenton Wallace (2-1, 2.28 ERA)
Watch: B1G Network
Saturday, April 10
Minnesota at Iowa
First Pitch: 2:05 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota Starter: LHP Jack Liffrig (1-1, 5.13 ERA)
Iowa Starter: RHP Drew Irvine (0-2, 5.73 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Sunday, April 11
Minnesota at Iowa
First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota Starter: RHP Trent Schoeberl (0-1, 4.80 ERA)
Iowa Starter: LHP Cam Baumann (1-2, 3.63 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Minnesota (4-14) hits the road this upcoming weekend for a three-game series against Iowa (9-9). Game one will air on B1G Network at 6:30 p.m. CT, while games two and three will stream live on BTN+ at 2:05 p.m. CT and 1:05 p.m. CT, respectively.
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1892, Minnesota and Iowa have faced off 308 total times, with the Gophers holding a 187-121 (.607) lead in the all-time series. Most recently, Minnesota defeated Iowa, 3-0, in a 2019 Big Ten Tournament elimination game. The most-recent series between the two squads came in 2018, which the Gophers claimed by taking two-of-three games. Across the last 10 meetings dating back to 2016, the Gophers are 7-3 against the Hawkeyes.
LAST TIME OUT
The Maroon & Gold spent last weekend hosting Michigan State in a three-game series at Siebert Field, which signified the first games at Minnesota's true home venue in 692 days (last: May 12, 2019). Although the Gophers dropped the series two games-to-one, Gopher hitters collected 46 total hits across the three matchups while scoring 23 runs.
WALK-OFF WIN
In their lone win of the Michigan State series in game two, Minnesota secured a 10-9 victory thanks to a two-out, walk-off single off the bat of Andrew Wilhite in the bottom of the ninth. Wilhite's heroic knock was set up by a two-out double by Chase Stanke, which gave Minnesota runners on second and third. Jack Wassel knotted up the game at 9-9 with a two-run single to center, which was sandwiched in between Stanke's double and Wilhite's walk-off.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa enters this weekend's series with an 9-9 overall record on the season, currently sitting in seventh place in the Big Ten standings. Included in Iowa's season resume is a 1-2 home record, as the Hawkeyes have played the majority of the 2021 season either away (3-2) or at neutral sites (5-5). Iowa is 5-1 over their last five games, having taken two-of-three against Purdue last weekend after going 3-1 versus Maryland and Ohio State the weekend prior. Overall, Iowa's .234 team batting average ranks 12th in the Big Ten, while their collective 4.24 ERA stands as the fourth best in the conference.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Minnesota takes to the road for just the second time this season, having been swept in a four-game series against first place Nebraska from March 26-28. That series represented the Gophers' first true road series since May 18, 2019. This upcoming weekend's series will stand as just the second away series for Minnesota in 693 days.
BATEMAN BREAKOUT
Earning a trio of starts against Michigan State, freshman outfielder Brett Bateman broke out with eight hits in the series while slashing .571/.600/.714 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored. Bateman started in centerfield each of the three games, earning a spot atop the Gopher lineup in games two and three.
OFFENSIVE SURGE
After batting .210 as a team through the first 15 games of the season, the Minnesota offense came alive against Michigan State to the tune of a .380 team batting average. Six Gophers batted .400 or better in the series, while Bateman (.571, 8-for-14), Chase Stanke (.571, 8-for-14), Jack Wassel (.533, 8-for-15) and Zack Raabe (.500, 7-for-14) all hit at or above a .500 clip.
HIT PARADE
Minnesota collected 18 hits in game two against Michigan State before raising the bar with a 19-hit showing in the game-three finale. The Gophers' 19-hit performance marked the team's most hits in a single game in over two years. The Maroon & Gold notched 20 hits while defeating St. Scholastica, 14-4, on April 2, 2019.
GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH
Entering the season as a Preseason Second Team All-American after leading the nation with 31 hits in 2020, second baseman Raabe has established himself as one of the nation's top offensive performers through the first five weeks of the 2021 season. Raabe is slashing .431/.529/.741 with four home runs, one triple, four doubles, seven RBI and 14 runs scored. Raabe currently ranks among the top hitters in the nation in on-base percentage (T18th), slugging percentage (24th) and batting average (25th). Meanwhile, the junior ranks first in the Big Ten in both batting average and OBP, while ranking near the top of the conference in slugging (fourth), total bases (tied sixth), walks (tied seventh) and home runs (T15th).
SCHOEBERL FLIRTS WITH NO-NO
Through the first five innings of play against Michigan State on Sunday, starting pitcher Trent Schoeberl did not give up a hit while allowing just two baserunners via a walk and hit-by-pitch. The right-hander ultimately lost the no-hit bid in the top of the sixth, before finishing with 6 2/3 innings pitched and four runs (three earned) allowed on four hits while striking out three to earn the quality start.
IN NEED OF A LIFF
Left-handed starting pitcher Jack Liffrig has allowed three earned runs or fewer while working five or more innings in four consecutive starts dating back to March 14. Liffrig carries a 3.37 ERA across his previous two starts.
YOUNG GUNS
In total, 13 of Minnesota's 18 starts this season have been made by sophomores Sam Ireland, Liffrig and Schoeberl. Four different sophomores and two freshmen have logged innings for the Gophers, as rookies Bateman and Noah DeLuga have seen mound work 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
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 .300/.391/.350 batting line with three doubles, 10 RBI, eight runs and one stolen base.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Last week, the Big Ten announced its plans for broadcasts for the remainder of the 2021 season. Minnesota will play on national television four times throughout the regular season: April 9 at Iowa (6:30 p.m. on BTN), 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 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.
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 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), 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
Minnesota will host Michigan in a three-game series at Siebert Field next weekend spanning from April 16-18. Game one will air on ESPNU on Friday at 3 p.m. CT, while games two and three will stream live on BTN+ at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Minnesota at Iowa
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (0-2, 4.60 ERA)
Iowa Starter: LHP Trenton Wallace (2-1, 2.28 ERA)
Watch: B1G Network
Saturday, April 10
Minnesota at Iowa
First Pitch: 2:05 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota Starter: LHP Jack Liffrig (1-1, 5.13 ERA)
Iowa Starter: RHP Drew Irvine (0-2, 5.73 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Sunday, April 11
Minnesota at Iowa
First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. CT
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Minnesota Starter: RHP Trent Schoeberl (0-1, 4.80 ERA)
Iowa Starter: LHP Cam Baumann (1-2, 3.63 ERA)
Watch: BTN+
Minnesota (4-14) hits the road this upcoming weekend for a three-game series against Iowa (9-9). Game one will air on B1G Network at 6:30 p.m. CT, while games two and three will stream live on BTN+ at 2:05 p.m. CT and 1:05 p.m. CT, respectively.
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1892, Minnesota and Iowa have faced off 308 total times, with the Gophers holding a 187-121 (.607) lead in the all-time series. Most recently, Minnesota defeated Iowa, 3-0, in a 2019 Big Ten Tournament elimination game. The most-recent series between the two squads came in 2018, which the Gophers claimed by taking two-of-three games. Across the last 10 meetings dating back to 2016, the Gophers are 7-3 against the Hawkeyes.
LAST TIME OUT
The Maroon & Gold spent last weekend hosting Michigan State in a three-game series at Siebert Field, which signified the first games at Minnesota's true home venue in 692 days (last: May 12, 2019). Although the Gophers dropped the series two games-to-one, Gopher hitters collected 46 total hits across the three matchups while scoring 23 runs.
WALK-OFF WIN
In their lone win of the Michigan State series in game two, Minnesota secured a 10-9 victory thanks to a two-out, walk-off single off the bat of Andrew Wilhite in the bottom of the ninth. Wilhite's heroic knock was set up by a two-out double by Chase Stanke, which gave Minnesota runners on second and third. Jack Wassel knotted up the game at 9-9 with a two-run single to center, which was sandwiched in between Stanke's double and Wilhite's walk-off.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa enters this weekend's series with an 9-9 overall record on the season, currently sitting in seventh place in the Big Ten standings. Included in Iowa's season resume is a 1-2 home record, as the Hawkeyes have played the majority of the 2021 season either away (3-2) or at neutral sites (5-5). Iowa is 5-1 over their last five games, having taken two-of-three against Purdue last weekend after going 3-1 versus Maryland and Ohio State the weekend prior. Overall, Iowa's .234 team batting average ranks 12th in the Big Ten, while their collective 4.24 ERA stands as the fourth best in the conference.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Minnesota takes to the road for just the second time this season, having been swept in a four-game series against first place Nebraska from March 26-28. That series represented the Gophers' first true road series since May 18, 2019. This upcoming weekend's series will stand as just the second away series for Minnesota in 693 days.
BATEMAN BREAKOUT
Earning a trio of starts against Michigan State, freshman outfielder Brett Bateman broke out with eight hits in the series while slashing .571/.600/.714 with two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored. Bateman started in centerfield each of the three games, earning a spot atop the Gopher lineup in games two and three.
OFFENSIVE SURGE
After batting .210 as a team through the first 15 games of the season, the Minnesota offense came alive against Michigan State to the tune of a .380 team batting average. Six Gophers batted .400 or better in the series, while Bateman (.571, 8-for-14), Chase Stanke (.571, 8-for-14), Jack Wassel (.533, 8-for-15) and Zack Raabe (.500, 7-for-14) all hit at or above a .500 clip.
HIT PARADE
Minnesota collected 18 hits in game two against Michigan State before raising the bar with a 19-hit showing in the game-three finale. The Gophers' 19-hit performance marked the team's most hits in a single game in over two years. The Maroon & Gold notched 20 hits while defeating St. Scholastica, 14-4, on April 2, 2019.
GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH
Entering the season as a Preseason Second Team All-American after leading the nation with 31 hits in 2020, second baseman Raabe has established himself as one of the nation's top offensive performers through the first five weeks of the 2021 season. Raabe is slashing .431/.529/.741 with four home runs, one triple, four doubles, seven RBI and 14 runs scored. Raabe currently ranks among the top hitters in the nation in on-base percentage (T18th), slugging percentage (24th) and batting average (25th). Meanwhile, the junior ranks first in the Big Ten in both batting average and OBP, while ranking near the top of the conference in slugging (fourth), total bases (tied sixth), walks (tied seventh) and home runs (T15th).
SCHOEBERL FLIRTS WITH NO-NO
Through the first five innings of play against Michigan State on Sunday, starting pitcher Trent Schoeberl did not give up a hit while allowing just two baserunners via a walk and hit-by-pitch. The right-hander ultimately lost the no-hit bid in the top of the sixth, before finishing with 6 2/3 innings pitched and four runs (three earned) allowed on four hits while striking out three to earn the quality start.
IN NEED OF A LIFF
Left-handed starting pitcher Jack Liffrig has allowed three earned runs or fewer while working five or more innings in four consecutive starts dating back to March 14. Liffrig carries a 3.37 ERA across his previous two starts.
YOUNG GUNS
In total, 13 of Minnesota's 18 starts this season have been made by sophomores Sam Ireland, Liffrig and Schoeberl. Four different sophomores and two freshmen have logged innings for the Gophers, as rookies Bateman and Noah DeLuga have seen mound work 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
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 .300/.391/.350 batting line with three doubles, 10 RBI, eight runs and one stolen base.
BROADCAST SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
Last week, the Big Ten announced its plans for broadcasts for the remainder of the 2021 season. Minnesota will play on national television four times throughout the regular season: April 9 at Iowa (6:30 p.m. on BTN), 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 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.
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 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), 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
Minnesota will host Michigan in a three-game series at Siebert Field next weekend spanning from April 16-18. Game one will air on ESPNU on Friday at 3 p.m. CT, while games two and three will stream live on BTN+ at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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