University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
0-4
New Mexico
3-1
Minnesota Outlasted by New Mexico 4-3 in 12 innings
2/20/2023 2:19:00 PM | Baseball
SURPRISE, Ariz. --The Minnesota Golden Gophers fell 4-3 in a 12-inning marathon to the New Mexico Lobos Monday.
Sophomore Connor Wietgrefe (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Minnesota (0-4) and pitched admirably, going 3.2 with six strikeouts before taking the loss. Senior Richard Holetz was another bright spot for the Golden Gophers, starting the ballgame and throwing five innings, giving up one run on four hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Freshman Sam Hunt led the way offensively for the Golden Gophers, going 3-for-4 in the ballgame with a double, two walks and two RBI. Sophomore Brady Counsell put together a noteworthy performance as well, going 4-for-5 with a double, a walk and an RBI. Sophomore Jake Larson also contributed, going 2-for-4 for Minnesota.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Minnesota got on the board thanks to Hunt's RBI ground-rule double.
After the Lobos rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Golden Gophers came back to retake the lead in the eighth inning. Minnesota scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Hunt, which brought the Golden Gophers lead to 2-1.
Minnesota's lead had evaporated once the ninth inning came around and turned into a 3-2 New Mexico advantage off a two-run home run by the designated hitter Ashby. The Golden Gophers evened up the game at 3-3 in the top of the night, scoring on an RBI single off the bat of Counsell. New Mexico won the game in the 12th inning off a two out RBI single, cementing a 4-3 win in walk-off fashion.
The Gophers had a chance to go ahead in the 12th, but Riley Swenson was thrown out at the plate trying to tag on a fly ball to right field.
GAME NOTES
» Counsell put together a four-hit day for the Golden Gophers.
» Four Minnesota hitters had multiple base knocks in the ballgame.
» Minnesota left 14 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» Minnesota went 5-for-16 (.313) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 49 New Mexico hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out 11.
» The Golden Gophers drew five walks from New Mexico pitching.
» Hunt led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
» New Mexico was led offensively by junior Lenny Junior Ashby, who went 1-for-6 with a home run and two RBI.
» Junior Terrell Hudson led the Lobos pitching staff, throwing three scoreless innings.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HUDSON, Terrell (1-0)
L: Wietgrefe, Connor (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Hunt, Sam 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Hunt, Sam 2
SH: Fritcher, Easton 1 ; Swenson, Riley 1 ; Larson, Jake 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bateman, Brett 1 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Swenson, Riley 1
SB: Counsell, Brady 1
CS: Larson, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: PIGFORD, Deylan 1
HR: ASHBY, Lenny Junior 1
RBI: ASHBY, Lenny Junior 2 ; STEPHENS, Sean 1 ; WEISSENBORN, Chase 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DITZENBERGER, Dylan 1 ; ASHBY, Lenny Junior 1 ; PIGFORD, Deylan 1 ; WEISSENBORN, Chase 1
