University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, April 12
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Rally Late to Top Tommies
4/12/2022 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
Jack Kelly hit an RBI double in the eighth to give the Gophers the lead for good
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the St. Thomas Tommies 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon at Siebert Field.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, Minnesota's bats woke up late. A two-out, pinch-hit single by Kyle Bork tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Gophers took the lead for good in the eighth inning after a Jack Kelly double into the left field corner scored Brett Bateman. UST had a man reach third base with one out in the ninth, but the Gophers were able to strand him and seal the 2-1 win.
Minnesota left-hander Jack Liffrig got the start, going 4.0 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He was replaced by Trent Schoeberl, who pitched 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit. Freshman left-hander Tucker Novotny (1-0) then struck out two in his 2.0 innings of work, earning his first collegiate win. Closer Will Semb earned the save, his second of the year.
Offensively, Minnesota had just five hits. Brett Bateman (2-for-4) led the way while Kyle Bork, Jack Kelly and Boston Merila had one each.
UST's Duke Coborn pitched 7.0 innings, striking out three and giving up just three hits. He had a shutout going through six before the Gophers finally got on the board in the seventh. UST's Carl Cano (0-1) earned the loss, pitching 0.2 inning in the eighth and surrendering the game-winning run.
UST scored its lone run of the game in the top of the second. After an infield single by left fielder Brigs Richartz, a sacrifice bunt advanced him to second base. Another infield single put runners on first and third with one out. A sacrifice fly to center field by Tommies' right fielder Jake Porter plated Richartz to put the visitors up 1-0.
The Gophers threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two outs. Boston Merila singled before Ronald Sweeny and Jake Larson drew walks. Andrew Wilhite put a good swing on one but lined out to left to end the inning.
Brett Bateman led off the third with a single and would advance to third base before being stranded to end the inning. The Gophers went down in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings on offense and didn't allow UST to reach scoring position in either inning.
Minnesota finally broke through in the seventh inning. Sweeny got things going with a two-out walk before stealing second to get into scoring position. A pinch-hit single by Kyle Bork then scored Sweeny from second to tie the game at 1-1.
The 'U' grabbed its first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth. After a one-out single by Bateman, Drew Stahl walked. Kelly then ripped a double on the second pitch into the left field corner to score Bateman and put the home team up 2-1.
Will Semb closed the game for the Gophers. UST's Kyle Halverson led the inning off with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. He would then steal third and stand just 90 feet away from tying the game with one out. Semb then struck out the next hitter before forcing a weak ground ball to second base to end the game.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (10-20, 1-5 Big Ten) is set to play a three game series at Iowa (16-12, 3-3 Big Ten) from Friday through Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the seventh inning, Minnesota's bats woke up late. A two-out, pinch-hit single by Kyle Bork tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Gophers took the lead for good in the eighth inning after a Jack Kelly double into the left field corner scored Brett Bateman. UST had a man reach third base with one out in the ninth, but the Gophers were able to strand him and seal the 2-1 win.
Minnesota left-hander Jack Liffrig got the start, going 4.0 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He was replaced by Trent Schoeberl, who pitched 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit. Freshman left-hander Tucker Novotny (1-0) then struck out two in his 2.0 innings of work, earning his first collegiate win. Closer Will Semb earned the save, his second of the year.
Offensively, Minnesota had just five hits. Brett Bateman (2-for-4) led the way while Kyle Bork, Jack Kelly and Boston Merila had one each.
UST's Duke Coborn pitched 7.0 innings, striking out three and giving up just three hits. He had a shutout going through six before the Gophers finally got on the board in the seventh. UST's Carl Cano (0-1) earned the loss, pitching 0.2 inning in the eighth and surrendering the game-winning run.
UST scored its lone run of the game in the top of the second. After an infield single by left fielder Brigs Richartz, a sacrifice bunt advanced him to second base. Another infield single put runners on first and third with one out. A sacrifice fly to center field by Tommies' right fielder Jake Porter plated Richartz to put the visitors up 1-0.
The Gophers threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two outs. Boston Merila singled before Ronald Sweeny and Jake Larson drew walks. Andrew Wilhite put a good swing on one but lined out to left to end the inning.
Brett Bateman led off the third with a single and would advance to third base before being stranded to end the inning. The Gophers went down in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings on offense and didn't allow UST to reach scoring position in either inning.
Minnesota finally broke through in the seventh inning. Sweeny got things going with a two-out walk before stealing second to get into scoring position. A pinch-hit single by Kyle Bork then scored Sweeny from second to tie the game at 1-1.
The 'U' grabbed its first lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth. After a one-out single by Bateman, Drew Stahl walked. Kelly then ripped a double on the second pitch into the left field corner to score Bateman and put the home team up 2-1.
Will Semb closed the game for the Gophers. UST's Kyle Halverson led the inning off with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. He would then steal third and stand just 90 feet away from tying the game with one out. Semb then struck out the next hitter before forcing a weak ground ball to second base to end the game.
UP NEXT
Minnesota (10-20, 1-5 Big Ten) is set to play a three game series at Iowa (16-12, 3-3 Big Ten) from Friday through Sunday in Iowa City, Iowa.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Novotny, Tucker (1-0)
L: C. Cano (0-1)
S: Semb, Will (2)
Batting:
RBI: J. Porter 1
SH: B. Richartz 1 ; M. Moris 1
SF: J. Porter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: B. Richartz 1
SB: K. Halverson 1
Batting:
2B: Kelly, Jack 1
RBI: Kelly, Jack 1 ; Bork, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Sweeny, Ronald 1
SB: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Sweeny, Ronald 1
CS: Bork, Kyle 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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RBI
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H
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RBI
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AB
3
R
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H
1
RBI
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Players Mentioned
OF
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3B
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LHP
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LHP
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RHP
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INF
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INF
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OF
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