University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
5-29, 0
Purdue
14-25, 0
Gophers Rally in Ninth for 9-8 Win on Senior Day
5/23/2021 5:08:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers snapped a 16-game skid with the walk-off victory at Siebert Field.
MINNEAPOLIS – A three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Gopher Baseball program a 9-8 win over Purdue on Sunday afternoon as the Maroon & Gold snapped a 16-game skid to win the 2021 home finale at Siebert Field.
And as Minnesota celebrated Senior Day on Sunday, it was fitting that the upperclassmen led the way for the Gophers in their final game at Siebert Field. The seniors contributed five of the team's nine runs and eight of 14 hits in the win.
Ronald Sweeny went 3-for-4 on the day with a home run, a walk and three RBIs to pace the group while Gabe Knowles put together a standout performance as well, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Meanwhile, Ryan Duffy (1-4) got the win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (5-29). The southpaw went 3.2 shutout innings, giving up one hit, two walks and striking out two. Tom Skoro had the start for the Gophers while Patrick Fredrickson and Josh Culliver also saw time on the mound. Landon Weins (0-2) took the loss for Purdue (14-25).
What a wild way to finish at home! pic.twitter.com/e1iKXvh1Cx
— Minnesota Baseball (@GopherBaseball) May 23, 2021
The Golden Gophers got on the scoreboard first in the second inning with a pair of runs before scoring again in the third when Knowles notched an RBI single to make it 3-1. The lead didn't hold and turned into a 4-3 Purdue advantage before the Golden Gophers re-gained control at 6-4 when Sweeny hit a three-run homer.
Purdue then rallied to take an 8-6 lead before Minnesota scored three runs in the bottom half of the ninth to grab the win, walking it off when Brett Bateman came across to score on a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
It's a day that ends in y, so you know @ronniesweeny hit a home run 😏#Gophers lead 6-4! pic.twitter.com/lNbYq8L6nu
— Minnesota Baseball (@GopherBaseball) May 23, 2021
Next Up: Season Finale Next Weekend
Minnesota closes out the 2021 campaign next weekend with a four-game pod in West Lafayette, Ind. The Gophers take on Penn State on Friday, May 28 at 5:00 p.m. CT and open a double header against the Nittany Lions on Saturday, May 20 at 1:00 p.m. CT. The Maroon & Gold close the day against Purdue at 5:00 p.m. CT before meeting the Boilermakers again on Sunday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m. CT.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Duffy, Ryan (1-4)
L: WEINS, Landon (0-2)
Batting:
2B: FASCIA, Zac 1 ; POWERS, Tyler 1
RBI: HUNTER, Skyler 2 ; NISLE, Ben 1 ; PARR, Jake 1 ; FASCIA, Zac 2 ; ALBRECHT, Evan 1
SH: BOLTON Jr., Mike 1
SF: NISLE, Ben 1 ; ALBRECHT, Evan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BOLTON Jr., Mike 1 ; HUNTER, Skyler 1 ; NISLE, Ben 1 ; PARR, Jake 2 ; POWERS, Tyler 2 ; ALBRECHT, Evan 1
SB: BOLTON Jr., Mike 1
HBP: BOLTON Jr., Mike 1 ; PARR, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: Raabe, Zack 1
HR: Sweeny, Ronald 1
RBI: Merila, Boston 1 ; Bertrand, Easton 1 ; Sweeny, Ronald 3 ; Knowles, Gabe 2 ; Bateman, Brett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ireland, Sam 1 ; Wassel, Jack 1 ; Stahl, Drew 1 ; Wilhite, Andrew 1 ; Sweeny, Ronald 3 ; Knowles, Gabe 1 ; Bateman, Brett 1
SB: Sweeny, Ronald 1
HBP: Merila, Boston 1 ; Bertrand, Easton 2
