University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, May 20
Siebert Field
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Purdue
Players Mentioned
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP/1B
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
Gophers Host Purdue at Siebert Field
5/19/2021 8:00:00 PM | Baseball
This weekend's action marks the final games of the year at Siebert Field.
MINNEAPOLIS – The Gopher baseball program returns to action this weekend and returns to Siebert Field as Minnesota hosts Purdue for four games on campus.
The series kicks off on Thursday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. CT follow-ups on Friday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. CT, Saturday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. CT and Sunday, May 23 at 1:00 p.m. CT. All four games will be available on BTN Plus.
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota enters this weekend's series with Purdue holding a 122-54-2 all-time record over the Boilermakers and has won three-straight games against this weekend's opponent. Also of note, six of Minnesota's final eight games will come against Purdue.
LAST TIME OUT
Minnesota has not played since a three-game road series at Maryland April 30-May 2 that saw the Maroon & Gold take three losses against the Terrapins.
BACK HOME
This weekend's series with the Boilermakers marks Minnesota's first home games at Siebert Field in over a month. The last time the Gophers were at home was a three-game series with Michigan April 16-18.
HONORING THE SENIOR CLASS
The University of Minnesota and the Gopher Baseball program will honor this year's senior class following Sunday's home finale at Siebert Field. Twelve Maroon & Gold seniors will be playing their final games on campus -- Easton Bertrand, Nolan Burchill, Drake Davis, Ryan Duffy, Patrick Fredrickson, Drew Hmielewski, Bubba Horton, Danny Kapala, Gabe Knowles, Tom Skoro, Ronald Sweeny and Jack Wassel. Minnesota will also salute 2020 senior Jordan Kozicky as part of the senior celebration.
RAABE NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST
On March 14, Preseason Second Team All-American second baseman Zack Raabe became one of 45 players across the nation to be named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.
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 POWEY 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.
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
Gopher Baseball 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.
BIG BATS BACK
After leading the B1G in hits and total bases again in 2020, Minnesota returns all six of the team's .300 hitters from last season. Zack Raabe (.463), Otto Grimm (.400), Jack Wassel (.364), Andrew Wilhite (.320), Sam 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 Brett 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 Meyer to the 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 this weekend's series, Minnesota closes out the 2021 campaign next weekend with a four-game pod against Penn State and Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
The series kicks off on Thursday, May 20 at 6:00 p.m. CT follow-ups on Friday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. CT, Saturday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. CT and Sunday, May 23 at 1:00 p.m. CT. All four games will be available on BTN Plus.
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota enters this weekend's series with Purdue holding a 122-54-2 all-time record over the Boilermakers and has won three-straight games against this weekend's opponent. Also of note, six of Minnesota's final eight games will come against Purdue.
LAST TIME OUT
Minnesota has not played since a three-game road series at Maryland April 30-May 2 that saw the Maroon & Gold take three losses against the Terrapins.
BACK HOME
This weekend's series with the Boilermakers marks Minnesota's first home games at Siebert Field in over a month. The last time the Gophers were at home was a three-game series with Michigan April 16-18.
HONORING THE SENIOR CLASS
The University of Minnesota and the Gopher Baseball program will honor this year's senior class following Sunday's home finale at Siebert Field. Twelve Maroon & Gold seniors will be playing their final games on campus -- Easton Bertrand, Nolan Burchill, Drake Davis, Ryan Duffy, Patrick Fredrickson, Drew Hmielewski, Bubba Horton, Danny Kapala, Gabe Knowles, Tom Skoro, Ronald Sweeny and Jack Wassel. Minnesota will also salute 2020 senior Jordan Kozicky as part of the senior celebration.
RAABE NAMED TO GOLDEN SPIKES WATCH LIST
On March 14, Preseason Second Team All-American second baseman Zack Raabe became one of 45 players across the nation to be named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.
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 POWEY 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.
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
Gopher Baseball 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.
BIG BATS BACK
After leading the B1G in hits and total bases again in 2020, Minnesota returns all six of the team's .300 hitters from last season. Zack Raabe (.463), Otto Grimm (.400), Jack Wassel (.364), Andrew Wilhite (.320), Sam 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 Brett 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 Meyer to the 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 this weekend's series, Minnesota closes out the 2021 campaign next weekend with a four-game pod against Penn State and Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind.
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