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Minnesota Welcomes Nebraska For Weekend Series
5/5/2022 11:27:00 AM | Baseball
Game one is on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 6
Minnesota vs. Nebraska
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (4.50 ERA, 4-4, 60.0 IP, 66 SO)
Nebraska Starter: RHP Shay Schanaman (4.00 ERA, 2-7, 63.0 IP, 64 SO)
TV: B1G+
Saturday, May 7
Minnesota vs. Nebraska
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP J.P. Massey (5.29 ERA, 2-6, 51.0 IP, 50 SO)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Emmett Olson (2.28 ERA, 2-3, 47.0 IP, 46 SO)
Stream: B1G+
Sunday, May 8
Minnesota vs. Nebraska
First Pitch: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP Aidan Maldonado (4.42 ERA, 1-3, 55.0 IP, 67 SO)
Nebraska Starter: TBA
Stream: B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-30, 2-13 Big Ten) are hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-25, 6-9 Big Ten) this weekend for a three-game set at Siebert Field. Minnesota is looking to break out of a skid in which it has lost six of the past seven games. The Gophers will be celebrating champions day on Saturday at Siebert Field, honoring the 1960 College World Series champions in addition to the 1982, 1992, 2000-02 and 2010 teams, all of which won either a Big Ten tournament or regular season title. All three games will be streamed on B1G+, starting with Friday's 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Saturday will be at 6 p.m. followed by Sunday at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
-The Huskers are led by third-year head coach Will Bolt. The 2021 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Bolt guided Nebraska to its second Big Ten regular-season championship in 2021. The Huskers finished 34-14 (31-12 Big Ten) and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final against Arkansas. NU finished 7-8 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
-Nebraska is tied for 12th in the Big Ten in hitting with a .245 average as a team, but its pitching staff ranks fourth in ERA (4.77).
-Offensively, NU is led by senior catcher Griffin Everitt, who paces the team with a .289 average in 43 games. He leads the Huskers in both home runs (7) and RBI (35).
SERIES HISTORY
-Nebraska leads the all-time series, 34-29 (.540). The Huskers swept last years' four-game series in Lincoln.
-The last time the two teams met at Siebert Field was in 2019, with the Gophers taking two out of three games.
-Minnesota is just 7-19 against Nebraska since they've joined the Big Ten.
CHAMPIONS WEEKEND FESTIVITIES AND PROMOTIONS
-Friday's game is 'Superhero Night' at the ballpark. Fans are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero for a chance to win movie passes and other Gophers baseball related prizes.
-Saturday is of course 'Champions Day,' with Minnesota honoring seven former title teams in a pre-game ceremony starting at 5:40 p.m. CT. The 1960 team will be honored after the first inning.
-On Sunday, Minnesota will host 'Bark in the Park.' $5 walkup tickets will be available for those with a dog and free doggy bags will be offered to first 100 fans with a dog. It's also Mother's Day, so ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by team moms in attendance.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota went 0-3 at Michigan State last weekend, falling 8-4, 2-1 and 9-7.
-The Gophers put up excellent efforts on both Saturday and Sunday. J.P. Massey allowed just two runs in 6.0 innings Saturday, but the Gophers couldn't get enough going offensively to break through and tie the game.
-On Sunday, Aidan Maldonado struck out a career-best 10 hitters, but left in the sixth with a no-decision. Minnesota led 7-5 heading into the eighth, but a four-run Spartans eighth inning gave the home team the victory.
JOHN ANDERSON HITS 600 CONFERENCE WINS
-Minnesota is in its 134th season in program history in the spring of 2022.
-John Anderson is in his 41st year at the helm of Gopher Baseball and holds a 1,343-958-3 (.583) overall record. This includes a 600-395 (.603) Big Ten record. Under Anderson's watch, the Gophers have won 11 Big Ten titles and have made the NCAA Tournament 19 times.
-The winningest coach in Big Ten history, Anderson won his 600th conference game in late April, a 7-3 win over Penn State. He's the only B1G coach to reach that mark.
GOPHERS SWIPING BASES AT A HIGH RATE
-The Gophers have been aggressive on the base paths this season, swiping 55 bases in 71 attempts. -The 'U' ranks fourth in the conference in stolen bases and have gotten contributions from 10 different players. Bateman (17), Wilhite (8) and Sweeny (8) lead the team.
STANKE THRIVING DEFENSIVELY
-One of Minnesota's three Big Ten 'Players to Watch', senior catcher Chase Stanke has been one of the more dependable defensive players in the league.
-He ranks second in the Big Ten in putouts (347) and runners caught stealing (12). His .995 fielding percentage ranks 10th in the league as well.
COUNSELL CRUSHING IN CONFERENCE PLAY
-In Minnesota's 15 conference games, freshman Brady Counsell started in 14 of them, tallying 23 assists (3rd on team), 12 hits (3rd), two triples (first) and five RBI (third). He's also hitting .240 (third).
-In his two starts against UMD, he went 3-for-8 with two triples and runs. He scored the game-winning run on a passed ball on Sunday to pull the upset.
-In 2022, he leads all true freshmen in appearances (32), batting average (.222), hits (20) and RBI (10).
MALDONADO KEEPS IT MOVING
-Junior Aidan Maldonado has been stellar in his last four starts. He's gone five-or-more innings with 5+ K's and less than four earned runs in each start.
-He struck out a career-high 10 Spartans on May 1, allowing just four hits and four earned runs. He brought his best stuff three weeks back in a win over No. 23 Maryland. He battled through 6.0 IP, striking out five and giving up a season-low one earned run.
-He picked up a no-decision, but it's the second time this year he's gone six-or-more innings against a ranked team. Maldonado went 6.0 innings against No. 12 Notre Dame on March 6, striking out five while allowing five hits and just two earned runs.
-Maldonado tallied two more quality starts in a row, at Iowa and vs. PSU. He went 5.1 vs. Iowa, striking out nine, and 7.0 vs. PSU, striking out six.
IRELAND IGNITES THE FLAME
-Junior Friday starter Sam Ireland has been healthy and available throughout the 2022 season. Through nine starts, he's 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 66 strikeouts. He ranks 11th in the B1G in K's (64) and wins (4).
-Ireland struck out nine in 7.0 innings on April 22 vs. Penn State, earning his first win since March 25.
SKORO SHOVING OUT OF BULLPEN
-Redshirt senior left-hander Tom Skoro has been the Gophers 'Mr. Dependable' out of the bullpen this season.
-He leads the team with 22 appearances. In 22.0 innings, he's allowed just seven earned runs and has struck out 26 hitters, with only 19 hits allowed.
MINNESOTA CONTINUING HOME SLATE AT SIEBERT
-The Gophers are through 11 of 18 home games at Siebert Field this season.
-Despite going 2-8 at Siebert Field in 2021, Minnesota is 56-39 there in the last six seasons.
-The 'U' went 13-7 in 2019, 12-2 in 2018, 10-9 2017, 16-7 in 2016 at Siebert Field.
-Minnesota is 4-7 at Siebert this season, compared to 1-16 in true road games. The 'U' went 6-6 at U.S. Bank Stadium in March.
BATEMAN SETS THE TONE
-Sophomore center fielder Brett Bateman leads the team in hits (56), at bats (171) and stolen bases (17), which ranks fourth in the league.
-He's hit safely in a team-best 15 of the last 16 games, including seven multi-hit games.
-Bateman is the only Gopher to start in all 42 games.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will travel to Indiana next weekend for a three-game series. After Indiana, the Gophers finish up at home against Nebraska-Omaha (May 17) and Northwestern (May 19-22).
Minnesota vs. Nebraska
First Pitch: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP Sam Ireland (4.50 ERA, 4-4, 60.0 IP, 66 SO)
Nebraska Starter: RHP Shay Schanaman (4.00 ERA, 2-7, 63.0 IP, 64 SO)
TV: B1G+
Saturday, May 7
Minnesota vs. Nebraska
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP J.P. Massey (5.29 ERA, 2-6, 51.0 IP, 50 SO)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Emmett Olson (2.28 ERA, 2-3, 47.0 IP, 46 SO)
Stream: B1G+
Sunday, May 8
Minnesota vs. Nebraska
First Pitch: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Siebert Field
Minnesota Starter: RHP Aidan Maldonado (4.42 ERA, 1-3, 55.0 IP, 67 SO)
Nebraska Starter: TBA
Stream: B1G+
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-30, 2-13 Big Ten) are hosting the Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-25, 6-9 Big Ten) this weekend for a three-game set at Siebert Field. Minnesota is looking to break out of a skid in which it has lost six of the past seven games. The Gophers will be celebrating champions day on Saturday at Siebert Field, honoring the 1960 College World Series champions in addition to the 1982, 1992, 2000-02 and 2010 teams, all of which won either a Big Ten tournament or regular season title. All three games will be streamed on B1G+, starting with Friday's 6:30 p.m. first pitch. Saturday will be at 6 p.m. followed by Sunday at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
-The Huskers are led by third-year head coach Will Bolt. The 2021 Big Ten Coach of the Year, Bolt guided Nebraska to its second Big Ten regular-season championship in 2021. The Huskers finished 34-14 (31-12 Big Ten) and advanced to the NCAA Regional Final against Arkansas. NU finished 7-8 in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
-Nebraska is tied for 12th in the Big Ten in hitting with a .245 average as a team, but its pitching staff ranks fourth in ERA (4.77).
-Offensively, NU is led by senior catcher Griffin Everitt, who paces the team with a .289 average in 43 games. He leads the Huskers in both home runs (7) and RBI (35).
SERIES HISTORY
-Nebraska leads the all-time series, 34-29 (.540). The Huskers swept last years' four-game series in Lincoln.
-The last time the two teams met at Siebert Field was in 2019, with the Gophers taking two out of three games.
-Minnesota is just 7-19 against Nebraska since they've joined the Big Ten.
CHAMPIONS WEEKEND FESTIVITIES AND PROMOTIONS
-Friday's game is 'Superhero Night' at the ballpark. Fans are encouraged to dress as their favorite superhero for a chance to win movie passes and other Gophers baseball related prizes.
-Saturday is of course 'Champions Day,' with Minnesota honoring seven former title teams in a pre-game ceremony starting at 5:40 p.m. CT. The 1960 team will be honored after the first inning.
-On Sunday, Minnesota will host 'Bark in the Park.' $5 walkup tickets will be available for those with a dog and free doggy bags will be offered to first 100 fans with a dog. It's also Mother's Day, so ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by team moms in attendance.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota went 0-3 at Michigan State last weekend, falling 8-4, 2-1 and 9-7.
-The Gophers put up excellent efforts on both Saturday and Sunday. J.P. Massey allowed just two runs in 6.0 innings Saturday, but the Gophers couldn't get enough going offensively to break through and tie the game.
-On Sunday, Aidan Maldonado struck out a career-best 10 hitters, but left in the sixth with a no-decision. Minnesota led 7-5 heading into the eighth, but a four-run Spartans eighth inning gave the home team the victory.
JOHN ANDERSON HITS 600 CONFERENCE WINS
-Minnesota is in its 134th season in program history in the spring of 2022.
-John Anderson is in his 41st year at the helm of Gopher Baseball and holds a 1,343-958-3 (.583) overall record. This includes a 600-395 (.603) Big Ten record. Under Anderson's watch, the Gophers have won 11 Big Ten titles and have made the NCAA Tournament 19 times.
-The winningest coach in Big Ten history, Anderson won his 600th conference game in late April, a 7-3 win over Penn State. He's the only B1G coach to reach that mark.
GOPHERS SWIPING BASES AT A HIGH RATE
-The Gophers have been aggressive on the base paths this season, swiping 55 bases in 71 attempts. -The 'U' ranks fourth in the conference in stolen bases and have gotten contributions from 10 different players. Bateman (17), Wilhite (8) and Sweeny (8) lead the team.
STANKE THRIVING DEFENSIVELY
-One of Minnesota's three Big Ten 'Players to Watch', senior catcher Chase Stanke has been one of the more dependable defensive players in the league.
-He ranks second in the Big Ten in putouts (347) and runners caught stealing (12). His .995 fielding percentage ranks 10th in the league as well.
COUNSELL CRUSHING IN CONFERENCE PLAY
-In Minnesota's 15 conference games, freshman Brady Counsell started in 14 of them, tallying 23 assists (3rd on team), 12 hits (3rd), two triples (first) and five RBI (third). He's also hitting .240 (third).
-In his two starts against UMD, he went 3-for-8 with two triples and runs. He scored the game-winning run on a passed ball on Sunday to pull the upset.
-In 2022, he leads all true freshmen in appearances (32), batting average (.222), hits (20) and RBI (10).
MALDONADO KEEPS IT MOVING
-Junior Aidan Maldonado has been stellar in his last four starts. He's gone five-or-more innings with 5+ K's and less than four earned runs in each start.
-He struck out a career-high 10 Spartans on May 1, allowing just four hits and four earned runs. He brought his best stuff three weeks back in a win over No. 23 Maryland. He battled through 6.0 IP, striking out five and giving up a season-low one earned run.
-He picked up a no-decision, but it's the second time this year he's gone six-or-more innings against a ranked team. Maldonado went 6.0 innings against No. 12 Notre Dame on March 6, striking out five while allowing five hits and just two earned runs.
-Maldonado tallied two more quality starts in a row, at Iowa and vs. PSU. He went 5.1 vs. Iowa, striking out nine, and 7.0 vs. PSU, striking out six.
IRELAND IGNITES THE FLAME
-Junior Friday starter Sam Ireland has been healthy and available throughout the 2022 season. Through nine starts, he's 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 66 strikeouts. He ranks 11th in the B1G in K's (64) and wins (4).
-Ireland struck out nine in 7.0 innings on April 22 vs. Penn State, earning his first win since March 25.
SKORO SHOVING OUT OF BULLPEN
-Redshirt senior left-hander Tom Skoro has been the Gophers 'Mr. Dependable' out of the bullpen this season.
-He leads the team with 22 appearances. In 22.0 innings, he's allowed just seven earned runs and has struck out 26 hitters, with only 19 hits allowed.
MINNESOTA CONTINUING HOME SLATE AT SIEBERT
-The Gophers are through 11 of 18 home games at Siebert Field this season.
-Despite going 2-8 at Siebert Field in 2021, Minnesota is 56-39 there in the last six seasons.
-The 'U' went 13-7 in 2019, 12-2 in 2018, 10-9 2017, 16-7 in 2016 at Siebert Field.
-Minnesota is 4-7 at Siebert this season, compared to 1-16 in true road games. The 'U' went 6-6 at U.S. Bank Stadium in March.
BATEMAN SETS THE TONE
-Sophomore center fielder Brett Bateman leads the team in hits (56), at bats (171) and stolen bases (17), which ranks fourth in the league.
-He's hit safely in a team-best 15 of the last 16 games, including seven multi-hit games.
-Bateman is the only Gopher to start in all 42 games.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will travel to Indiana next weekend for a three-game series. After Indiana, the Gophers finish up at home against Nebraska-Omaha (May 17) and Northwestern (May 19-22).
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