University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
1-2
Florida Atlantic
2-1
Gophers Fall 13-4 in Sunday Matinee
2/20/2022 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
Andrew Wilhite paced the offense with two extra base hits
BOCA RATON, Florida -- Minnesota dropped its second straight game to Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon, falling 13-4 in game three of four in the series in Boca Raton, Fla. The two teams will head into Monday's series finale with the Owls leading the series two games to one.
Andrew Wilhite went 2-for-5 with a home run, double and two RBI while Chase Stanke went 1-for-4 and hit his second home run of the series. The Gophers had seven hits and three errors as a team while FAU had 14 hits and two errors.
FAU did most of its damage offensively in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring nine runs combined between the two frames, breaking open what was a 4-4 ballgame through 4.5 innings of play.
The Gophers started the game fast offensively, getting back-to-back home runs from seniors Andrew Wilhite and Chase Stanke to go up 2-0 in the first inning. FAU would respond in the second inning with two runs of its own. A two-out throwing error from Boston Merila allowed the first run to score. Two more two-out singles from the Owls allowed another run to score to tie the game.
FAU's Jalen DeBose broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the second inning with a monstrous two-run home run off the batters eye in center field to put the home team up 4-2.
Minnesota was then held scoreless until the fifth inning, when they finally broke through and tied the game. Bertrand was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a double down the left field line by Stahl. They both went on to score after consecutive RBI ground outs from Bateman and Wilhite.
J.P. Massey registered a no decision on the mound after tossing 4.0 innings, allowing six hits and four runs while striking out three. He was replaced in the fifth inning by Richie Holetz, the senior transfer from Nebraska-Omaha.
The Owls broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning, capitalizing on a Minnesota fielding error with two outs and men on first and second. With the game tied at four and the bases loaded, FAU's DeBose continued his red hot weekend with a bases-clearing double to deep left field, scoring three runs. Two more two out hits scored another pair of runs, putting the home team up 9-4.
FAU would add onto its offensive onslaught in the sixth inning when leadoff hitter Almando Albert hit a two out grand slam to put his team up 13-4.
Redshirt senior Josh Culliver replaced Holetz with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. He tossed 2.0 innings, allowing no earned runs, striking out one and surrendering two hits. Tom Skoro came in for the second time in the series and struck out one with the bases loaded in the eighth.
NEXT UP:
Minnesota and FAU play in the series final tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT. After that, Minnesota will play at Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Waterbor, Evan (1-0)
L: Holetz, Richie (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Wilhite, Andrew 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Stahl, Drew 1
HR: Wilhite, Andrew 1 ; Stanke, Chase 1
RBI: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Wilhite, Andrew 2 ; Stanke, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilhite, Andrew 1 ; Stanke, Chase 1 ; Bertrand, Easton 1 ; Stahl, Drew 1
HBP: Bork, Kyle 1 ; Bertrand, Easton 1
PO: Hauser, Joe 1
Batting:
2B: Pendleton, Caleb 1 ; DeBose, Jalen 1
HR: Albert, Armando 1 ; DeBose, Jalen 1
RBI: Albert, Armando 5 ; Schanuel, Nolan 1 ; Kelder, Tyler 1 ; Loden, Steven 1 ; DeBose, Jalen 5
Base Running:
RUNS: Albert, Armando 3 ; Kelder, Tyler 1 ; Loden, Steven 1 ; Pendleton, Caleb 1 ; Goldstein, Dylan 1 ; Ross, Jackson 1 ; Presto, Dom 2 ; DeBose, Jalen 3
SB: Albert, Armando 3
CS: Loden, Steven 1
HBP: Loden, Steven 2 ; Ross, Jackson 1
