University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 25
6:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Western Illinois
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Minnesota Closes U.S. Bank Stadium Slate vs. WIU
3/23/2022 4:16:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers and Leathernecks will play a three game series this weekend
Friday, March 25
Minnesota vs. Western Illinois
First Pitch: 6:30Â p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (2.60 ERA, 2-0, 27.2 IP, 33 SO)
Western Illinois Starter: LHP Jack Bell (7.82 ERA, 1-0, 12.2 IP, 9 SO)
Stream:Â B1G+
Saturday, March 26
Minnesota vs. Western Illinois
First Pitch: 2Â p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP J.P Massey (7.29 ERA, 1-2, 21.0 IP, 21 SO)
Western Illinois Starter: LHP Jace Warkentien (10.61 ERA, 1-2, 18.2 IP, 20 SO)
Stream:Â B1G+
Saturday, March 27
Minnesota vs. Western Illinois
First Pitch: Noon CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Aidan Maldonado (5.09 ERA, 0-2, 23.0 IP, 23 SO)
Western Illinois Starter: LHP Brian Raymond (6.57 ERA, 0-1, 24.2 IP, 15 SO)
Stream:Â B1G+
MINNEAPOLISÂ --Â The Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-15, 0-0 Big Ten) will close out their weekend non-conference slate at U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend with three games against the Western Illinois Leathernecks (2-16, 0-3 Summit). This will be the second three game series in history between the two teams, with the first coming in 2013 at the HHH Metrodome.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
-The Leathernecks are coming off three conference games at Northern Colorado, a series where they went 0-3 with two one-run losses. WIU's wins this year are over Western Kentucky (Feb. 19, 14-7) and SIU-Edwardsville (March 16, 18-11).
-WIU is led by third-year head coach Andy Pascoe, a former assistant coach at Butler University. The Leathernecks went 0-13 in 2020 before going 11-29 (7-20 Summit) in 2021, both COVID-shortened seasons.
-Western Illinois had two players honored as preseason athletes to watch during the 2022 campaign, with Derek Botaletto named 'Player to Watch' and Jace Warkentien named 'Pitcher to Watch,' the Summit League announced prior to the season.
-Warkentien finished last season with a 2-4 record, a team-leading 58.1 innings pitched and a team-low 4.47 ERA. Botaletto started 31 games a season ago and was top-five on the team in batting average (.279), hits (31), and total bases (33).
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota leads the all-time series, 3-0. The two teams squared off March 8-10, 2013 in a three game series inside the HHH Metrodome. The Gophers won the games, 3-0, 5-1 and 5-3.
LAST TIME OUT
-The Gophers were swept by Creighton last weekend in Omaha. Minnesota fought back from a 4-0 deficit to tie game one in the ninth inning before CU scored the winning run on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
-In game two, five errors did Minnesota in as it fell 14-7 on Saturday.
-Minnesota scored two runs in the first inning but were held scoreless for the final eight frames in the series finale. Creighton scratched off two runs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and complete the sweep.
CAMBRIA COLLEGE CLASSIC RECAP
-The Gophers won one of their three games during the Cambria College Classic from March 4-6.
-They fell, 5-4, to No. 25 West Virginia on Friday night. Minnesota led 4-2 heading into the seventh inning, but three late WVU runs sealed the win.
-Jack Kelly went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead Minnesota to an 8-1 win over Kansas Saturday. J.P. Massey went 6.2 innings with 8 K's.
-The 'U' fell to No. 12 Notre Dame, 3-1 on Sunday. Chase Stanke hit his team-leading seventh homer.
STANKE POWER SURGING TO START 2022
-Minnesota starting catcher Chase Stanke, a Buster Posey Watch list member, has been crushing the ball to start 2022. He ranks third in the Big Ten in home runs (7) and tenth in doubles (7). 13 of his 17 hits are for extra bases, which is a team-high.
BERTRAND EARNING HIS PRAISE
-Gophers redshirt senior outfielder Easton Bertrand was named as a top-150 (No. 110) outfielder in the country by D1Baseball.com. The Illinois native ranks in the top ten in the Big Ten in slg.% (8th, .702) and batting avg. (10th, .383).
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CLAUSEN, CULLIVER, SKORO THRIVING OUT OF BULLPEN
-Minnesota relievers Seth Clausen (7), Josh Culliver (7) and Tom Skoro have combined to make 23 appearances out of the bullpen in 2022, which leads the team.
-Led by Skoro (3.12), all have posted ERA under 5.00 and have been the steadiest arms in the back end.
-A redshirt senior southpaw, Skoro hasn't let up any runs in seven of his nine outings this spring. Clausen hasn't allowed any runs in three of his past four outings.
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GOPHERS AT THE BANK
-Minnesota has gone 3-6 inside the confines of U.S. Bank Stadium this season.
-The wins are over St. Thomas (12-0), Kansas (8-1) and Air Force (7-6).
-Of their six losses there, five of them are by three runs or fewer and four are by two runs or fewer.
-The Gophers are looking to head into Big Ten play with some momentum in three games vs. WIU.
GOPHERS HITTING THE LONG BALL
-Minnesota ranks third in the Big Ten and No. 56 in the nation with 23 home runs in 20 games this season. Chase Stanke ranks third conference with seven while Jack Kelly has hit five. Easton Bertrand is up next wtih four while Ronald Sweeny has three.
IRELAND FINDING HIS STUFF
-Junior Friday starter Sam Ireland has been stellar to start the 2022 season. Through five starts, he's 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA and 33 strikeouts while opposing hitters are swatting just .216 against him. He ranks tenth in the B1G in K's and ERA, eighth in innings pitched (27.2) and seventh in batters struck out looking (10).
-He became the first Gopher since Max Meyer in 2020 to strike out 15-or-more batters in his first two starts of the season.
BATEMAN SETS THE TONE
-Sophomore centerfielder Brett Bateman leads the team in hits (26) and at bats (85). He's also swiped a team-best eight bases, which ranks second in the league.
-Bateman is the only Gopher to start in all 20 games.
KELLY CRUSHING OPPOSING PITCHING
-Senior utility player Jack Kelly has been on a tear in his final collegiate season.
-In three games vs. Air Force March 11-13, he hit .667 with two home runs, four extra base hits and 9 RBI.
-B1G Ranks: Batting Avg.: .391 (6th), SLG%: .797 (1st), RBI: 22 (7th) and triples: 3 (1st).
UP NEXT
Minnesota will travel to Rutgers for a three game series to open Big Ten play from April 1-3.
Minnesota vs. Western Illinois
First Pitch: 6:30Â p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (2.60 ERA, 2-0, 27.2 IP, 33 SO)
Western Illinois Starter: LHP Jack Bell (7.82 ERA, 1-0, 12.2 IP, 9 SO)
Stream:Â B1G+
Saturday, March 26
Minnesota vs. Western Illinois
First Pitch: 2Â p.m. CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP J.P Massey (7.29 ERA, 1-2, 21.0 IP, 21 SO)
Western Illinois Starter: LHP Jace Warkentien (10.61 ERA, 1-2, 18.2 IP, 20 SO)
Stream:Â B1G+
Saturday, March 27
Minnesota vs. Western Illinois
First Pitch: Noon CT
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium
Minnesota Starter: RHP Aidan Maldonado (5.09 ERA, 0-2, 23.0 IP, 23 SO)
Western Illinois Starter: LHP Brian Raymond (6.57 ERA, 0-1, 24.2 IP, 15 SO)
Stream:Â B1G+
MINNEAPOLISÂ --Â The Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-15, 0-0 Big Ten) will close out their weekend non-conference slate at U.S. Bank Stadium this weekend with three games against the Western Illinois Leathernecks (2-16, 0-3 Summit). This will be the second three game series in history between the two teams, with the first coming in 2013 at the HHH Metrodome.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS
-The Leathernecks are coming off three conference games at Northern Colorado, a series where they went 0-3 with two one-run losses. WIU's wins this year are over Western Kentucky (Feb. 19, 14-7) and SIU-Edwardsville (March 16, 18-11).
-WIU is led by third-year head coach Andy Pascoe, a former assistant coach at Butler University. The Leathernecks went 0-13 in 2020 before going 11-29 (7-20 Summit) in 2021, both COVID-shortened seasons.
-Western Illinois had two players honored as preseason athletes to watch during the 2022 campaign, with Derek Botaletto named 'Player to Watch' and Jace Warkentien named 'Pitcher to Watch,' the Summit League announced prior to the season.
-Warkentien finished last season with a 2-4 record, a team-leading 58.1 innings pitched and a team-low 4.47 ERA. Botaletto started 31 games a season ago and was top-five on the team in batting average (.279), hits (31), and total bases (33).
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota leads the all-time series, 3-0. The two teams squared off March 8-10, 2013 in a three game series inside the HHH Metrodome. The Gophers won the games, 3-0, 5-1 and 5-3.
LAST TIME OUT
-The Gophers were swept by Creighton last weekend in Omaha. Minnesota fought back from a 4-0 deficit to tie game one in the ninth inning before CU scored the winning run on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
-In game two, five errors did Minnesota in as it fell 14-7 on Saturday.
-Minnesota scored two runs in the first inning but were held scoreless for the final eight frames in the series finale. Creighton scratched off two runs in the bottom of the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and complete the sweep.
CAMBRIA COLLEGE CLASSIC RECAP
-The Gophers won one of their three games during the Cambria College Classic from March 4-6.
-They fell, 5-4, to No. 25 West Virginia on Friday night. Minnesota led 4-2 heading into the seventh inning, but three late WVU runs sealed the win.
-Jack Kelly went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead Minnesota to an 8-1 win over Kansas Saturday. J.P. Massey went 6.2 innings with 8 K's.
-The 'U' fell to No. 12 Notre Dame, 3-1 on Sunday. Chase Stanke hit his team-leading seventh homer.
STANKE POWER SURGING TO START 2022
-Minnesota starting catcher Chase Stanke, a Buster Posey Watch list member, has been crushing the ball to start 2022. He ranks third in the Big Ten in home runs (7) and tenth in doubles (7). 13 of his 17 hits are for extra bases, which is a team-high.
BERTRAND EARNING HIS PRAISE
-Gophers redshirt senior outfielder Easton Bertrand was named as a top-150 (No. 110) outfielder in the country by D1Baseball.com. The Illinois native ranks in the top ten in the Big Ten in slg.% (8th, .702) and batting avg. (10th, .383).
Â
CLAUSEN, CULLIVER, SKORO THRIVING OUT OF BULLPEN
-Minnesota relievers Seth Clausen (7), Josh Culliver (7) and Tom Skoro have combined to make 23 appearances out of the bullpen in 2022, which leads the team.
-Led by Skoro (3.12), all have posted ERA under 5.00 and have been the steadiest arms in the back end.
-A redshirt senior southpaw, Skoro hasn't let up any runs in seven of his nine outings this spring. Clausen hasn't allowed any runs in three of his past four outings.
Â
GOPHERS AT THE BANK
-Minnesota has gone 3-6 inside the confines of U.S. Bank Stadium this season.
-The wins are over St. Thomas (12-0), Kansas (8-1) and Air Force (7-6).
-Of their six losses there, five of them are by three runs or fewer and four are by two runs or fewer.
-The Gophers are looking to head into Big Ten play with some momentum in three games vs. WIU.
GOPHERS HITTING THE LONG BALL
-Minnesota ranks third in the Big Ten and No. 56 in the nation with 23 home runs in 20 games this season. Chase Stanke ranks third conference with seven while Jack Kelly has hit five. Easton Bertrand is up next wtih four while Ronald Sweeny has three.
IRELAND FINDING HIS STUFF
-Junior Friday starter Sam Ireland has been stellar to start the 2022 season. Through five starts, he's 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA and 33 strikeouts while opposing hitters are swatting just .216 against him. He ranks tenth in the B1G in K's and ERA, eighth in innings pitched (27.2) and seventh in batters struck out looking (10).
-He became the first Gopher since Max Meyer in 2020 to strike out 15-or-more batters in his first two starts of the season.
BATEMAN SETS THE TONE
-Sophomore centerfielder Brett Bateman leads the team in hits (26) and at bats (85). He's also swiped a team-best eight bases, which ranks second in the league.
-Bateman is the only Gopher to start in all 20 games.
KELLY CRUSHING OPPOSING PITCHING
-Senior utility player Jack Kelly has been on a tear in his final collegiate season.
-In three games vs. Air Force March 11-13, he hit .667 with two home runs, four extra base hits and 9 RBI.
-B1G Ranks: Batting Avg.: .391 (6th), SLG%: .797 (1st), RBI: 22 (7th) and triples: 3 (1st).
UP NEXT
Minnesota will travel to Rutgers for a three game series to open Big Ten play from April 1-3.
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Thursday, September 18
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Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
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