University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, April 23
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
11-25, 0
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Penn State
16-20, 0
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Penn St.
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Minnesota Gophers
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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Four-Run Eighth Inning Dooms Gophers vs. PSU
4/23/2022 5:25:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Golden Gophers baseball team fell 5-1 to the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon at Siebert Field. The two teams will play the series rubber match tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. Central time.
It was a pitcher's duel for most of the day as the two teams were deadlocked at 0-0 through five innings. The Nittany Lions (16-20, 6-8 Big Ten) finally broke through on the scoreboard with a solo home run with two outs in the top of the sixth. The Gophers would tie the game in the seventh, but a four-run eighth inning for PSU broke the game open.
Minnesota (11-25, 2-9 Big Ten) senior right-hander J.P. Massey (2-5) tossed 6.0 innings, striking out three while allowing just four hits and one earned run. PSU's Travis Luensmann (2-2) went 6.0 innings, striking out four and giving up three hits and no earned runs.
Offensively, the Gophers totaled six hits compared to 12 for the Nittany Lions. PSU's Matt Wood led the way with a 3-for-5 day at the plate while Brady Counsell paced the 'U' with a 2-for-3 output.
The Nittany Lions threatened in both the second and third innings, loading the bases in both. Massey was able to work the Gophers out of jams in both frames, stranding six runners and leaving the visitors scoreless.
Penn State finally got on the board in the top of the sixth. With two outs, two strikes and no one on, right fielder Billy Gerlott homered to left center field to break the scoreless tie.
The Gophers threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning against PSU reliever Tyler Shingledecker. Jack Kelly reached on an error and Kyle Bork advanced him to second base with a groundout. Brady Counsell then singled to left, advancing Kelly to third. Drew Stahl then walked to load the bases with one out and Ronald Sweeny coming to the plate. Sweeny grounded out to first but drove in a run as Kelly slid in safely to score. Andrew Wilhite had a chance to put his team ahead with two outs and runners on second and third, but grounded out to the pitcher to end the frame.
The tie game did not last long, however, as Nittany Lions got their offense going again in the top of the eighth. PSU ripped six singles and scored four runs to break the game open and take a 5-1 lead. Noah DeLuga (1-1) and Will Semb were both tagged with a pair of earned runs in the frame. DeLuga was credited with the loss.
Minnesota loaded up the bases with one out in the ninth, but Wilhite grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
UP NEXT
Minnesota and Penn State will play the series finale tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. CT. B1G+ will again provide streaming coverage.
It was a pitcher's duel for most of the day as the two teams were deadlocked at 0-0 through five innings. The Nittany Lions (16-20, 6-8 Big Ten) finally broke through on the scoreboard with a solo home run with two outs in the top of the sixth. The Gophers would tie the game in the seventh, but a four-run eighth inning for PSU broke the game open.
Minnesota (11-25, 2-9 Big Ten) senior right-hander J.P. Massey (2-5) tossed 6.0 innings, striking out three while allowing just four hits and one earned run. PSU's Travis Luensmann (2-2) went 6.0 innings, striking out four and giving up three hits and no earned runs.
Offensively, the Gophers totaled six hits compared to 12 for the Nittany Lions. PSU's Matt Wood led the way with a 3-for-5 day at the plate while Brady Counsell paced the 'U' with a 2-for-3 output.
The Nittany Lions threatened in both the second and third innings, loading the bases in both. Massey was able to work the Gophers out of jams in both frames, stranding six runners and leaving the visitors scoreless.
Penn State finally got on the board in the top of the sixth. With two outs, two strikes and no one on, right fielder Billy Gerlott homered to left center field to break the scoreless tie.
The Gophers threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning against PSU reliever Tyler Shingledecker. Jack Kelly reached on an error and Kyle Bork advanced him to second base with a groundout. Brady Counsell then singled to left, advancing Kelly to third. Drew Stahl then walked to load the bases with one out and Ronald Sweeny coming to the plate. Sweeny grounded out to first but drove in a run as Kelly slid in safely to score. Andrew Wilhite had a chance to put his team ahead with two outs and runners on second and third, but grounded out to the pitcher to end the frame.
The tie game did not last long, however, as Nittany Lions got their offense going again in the top of the eighth. PSU ripped six singles and scored four runs to break the game open and take a 5-1 lead. Noah DeLuga (1-1) and Will Semb were both tagged with a pair of earned runs in the frame. DeLuga was credited with the loss.
Minnesota loaded up the bases with one out in the ninth, but Wilhite grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game.
UP NEXT
Minnesota and Penn State will play the series finale tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. CT. B1G+ will again provide streaming coverage.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Shingledeck (4-2)
L: DeLuga, Noah (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Wood, M. 1 ; Spiegel, J. 2
HR: Gerlott, B. 1
RBI: Bartels, C. 1 ; Wood, M. 1 ; Kelley, T. 1 ; Gerlott, B. 1 ; Cease, D. 1
SF: Bartels, C. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harry, J. 1 ; Piacentino 1 ; Kailher, B. 1 ; Gerlott, B. 1 ; Cease, D. 1
SB: Wood, M. 1
Batting:
RBI: Sweeny, Ronald 1
SH: Counsell, Brady 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kelly, Jack 1
SB: Merila, Boston 2
CS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1
HBP: Bork, Kyle 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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