University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, May 28
West Lafayette, IN
4:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Penn State
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
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INF
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OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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RHP
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INF
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RHP
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OF
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RHP
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OF
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LHP
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RHP/1B
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OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
C/OF
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RHP
/ Baseball
IF
/ Baseball
LHP
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RHP
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INF
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INF
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RHP
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INF
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C
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Photo by: Eric Miller
'U' Closes Out Season with Purdue Pod
5/27/2021 9:09:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota plays Penn State twice and Purdue twice this weekend to close out the season.
UPDATE: Rain in West Lafayette has forced schedule changes to this weekend's series. Click here for info.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gopher baseball program closes out the 2021 season this weekend with a four-game Big Ten pod against Purdue and Penn State at Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Ind. The Maroon & Gold open the weekend with two-straight against the Nittany Lions -- playing on Friday, May 28 at 4:00 p.m. CT and opening a Saturday doubleheader against Penn State on May 29 at 1:00 p.m. CT. Minnesota completes the Saturday doubleheader against Purdue at 5:00 p.m. CT and then closes out the weekend against the Boilermakers on Sunday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Minnesota's first three games of the weekend will be streamed on BTN Plus with Sunday's regular-season finale airing live on the Big Ten Network (also streamed on the FOX Sports App).
SENIOR SEND OFF
Minnesota is coming off a dramatic walk-off win against Purdue last Sunday at Siebert Field as the Maroon & Gold snapped a 16-game skid with a ninth inning rally against the Boilermakers. The win also served as a suitable sendoff for the University of Minnesota Class of 2021 as the Gophers seniors earned a hard-fought victory in their final game at Siebert Field.
SUCCESS IN THE (VIRTUAL) CLASSROOM
On Thursday, the Big Ten Conference recognized 24 members of the Gopher baseball program as Academic All-Big Ten selections for the 2020-21 academic year. As a whole, the University of Minnesota boasted a total of 431 Academic All-Big Ten accolades this year -- setting a new school record. Representing the baseball program as Academic All-Big Ten honorees this year are Will Anderson, Noah Berghammer, Easton Bertrand, Kyle Bork, Nolan Burchill, Drake Davis, Zack Elliott, Patrick Fredrickson, Michael Gurka, Drew Hmielewski, Bubba Horton, Sam Ireland, Steve Jamroziak, Danny Kapala, Jack Kelly, Jack Liffrig, J.P. Massey, Zack Raabe, Trent Schoeberl, Drew Stahl, Chase Stanke, Bennett Theisen, Jack Wassel and Andrew Wilhite.
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 1,330 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.
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota holds a 123-57-2 all-time record against Purdue and has won seven-straight games in West Lafayette dating back to 2010. The Gophers will face Penn State for the first time since 2019 this weekend with a 54-24 all-time mark against the Nittany Lions and a 15-game winning streak against the Big Ten opponent.
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.
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.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Gopher baseball program closes out the 2021 season this weekend with a four-game Big Ten pod against Purdue and Penn State at Alexander Field in West Lafayette, Ind. The Maroon & Gold open the weekend with two-straight against the Nittany Lions -- playing on Friday, May 28 at 4:00 p.m. CT and opening a Saturday doubleheader against Penn State on May 29 at 1:00 p.m. CT. Minnesota completes the Saturday doubleheader against Purdue at 5:00 p.m. CT and then closes out the weekend against the Boilermakers on Sunday, May 30 at 3:00 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Minnesota's first three games of the weekend will be streamed on BTN Plus with Sunday's regular-season finale airing live on the Big Ten Network (also streamed on the FOX Sports App).
SENIOR SEND OFF
Minnesota is coming off a dramatic walk-off win against Purdue last Sunday at Siebert Field as the Maroon & Gold snapped a 16-game skid with a ninth inning rally against the Boilermakers. The win also served as a suitable sendoff for the University of Minnesota Class of 2021 as the Gophers seniors earned a hard-fought victory in their final game at Siebert Field.
SUCCESS IN THE (VIRTUAL) CLASSROOM
On Thursday, the Big Ten Conference recognized 24 members of the Gopher baseball program as Academic All-Big Ten selections for the 2020-21 academic year. As a whole, the University of Minnesota boasted a total of 431 Academic All-Big Ten accolades this year -- setting a new school record. Representing the baseball program as Academic All-Big Ten honorees this year are Will Anderson, Noah Berghammer, Easton Bertrand, Kyle Bork, Nolan Burchill, Drake Davis, Zack Elliott, Patrick Fredrickson, Michael Gurka, Drew Hmielewski, Bubba Horton, Sam Ireland, Steve Jamroziak, Danny Kapala, Jack Kelly, Jack Liffrig, J.P. Massey, Zack Raabe, Trent Schoeberl, Drew Stahl, Chase Stanke, Bennett Theisen, Jack Wassel and Andrew Wilhite.
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 1,330 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.
SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota holds a 123-57-2 all-time record against Purdue and has won seven-straight games in West Lafayette dating back to 2010. The Gophers will face Penn State for the first time since 2019 this weekend with a 54-24 all-time mark against the Nittany Lions and a 15-game winning streak against the Big Ten opponent.
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.
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.
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