University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
St. Thomas
Counsell Records Four RBI in 9-4 Win Over UST
4/26/2023 9:17:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers scored eight runs in the first two innings
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sophomore Brady Counsell racked up four RBI on a home run and a double to help power the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the St. Thomas Tommies, 9-4, on Wednesday evening.
Minnesota scored eight of its nine runs in the first two innings to grab a commanding lead that it would never let up.
Senior Ben Shepard (2-2) started on the mound and picked up the win for Minnesota (11-28, 4-8 Big Ten). The right-hander went six innings, giving up four runs, one earned, on four hits, allowing three walks and striking out three. Sophomore Connor Wietgrefe also made an impact on the mound for the Golden Gophers, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing two hits with six strikeouts.
Counsell went 2-for-5 with a two-run double and a two-run home run to lead the Golden Gophers. Sophomore Jake Perry put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, walk and two RBI. Junior Kyle Bork also contributed for Minnesota, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Minnesota plated two runs when Counsell left the yard with a two-run no-doubter to left field, his fourth long ball of the year.
The Tommies grabbed the lead in the top of the second with three unearned runs to go up by one. The lead wouldn't last long, however, as the 'U' offense exploded for six runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Perry and a two-run double from Counsell, which brought the Golden Gophers lead to 8-3 after two.
St. Thomas narrowed Minnesota's lead to 8-4 with an RBI single in the fourth. The Golden Gophers scored once more on Kyle Bork's one-out RBI double in the seventh inning. The score remained 9-4 for the rest of the game, as Minnesota coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Connor Wietgrefe struck out six Tommies hitters, which tied a season-high.
» The Golden Gophers power output was led by Counsell, who compiled two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Counsell drove in four runs for Minnesota, which tied a single-game season-high.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Boston Merila extended his on-base streak to 19 games.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed six runs across.
» The Golden Gophers had control of the rest of the game after jumping ahead of the Tommies 8-3 in the bottom of the second.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Tommies at a 9-6 clip.
» Minnesota went 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 39 St. Thomas hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Golden Gophers drew 10 walks from St. Thomas (MN) pitching.
» St. Thomas was led offensively by freshman Dylan O'Connell, who went 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.
» Freshman Owen Marsh led the Tommies pitching staff, throwing 3.1 innings of one-run ball.
UP NEXT
The Gophers (11-28, 4-8 Big Ten) are heading to Nebraska (22-15-1, 7-5 Big Ten) for a three-game series in Lincoln this weekend. Game one is set for 7 p.m. Friday on Big Ten Network.
