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Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Look to Nebraska for Crucial Three Game Series
4/27/2023 12:50:00 AM | Baseball
Minnesota is in 11th place in the Big Ten with four series to go
Friday, April 28
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 7 p.m.
Location: Lincoln, Neb. (Haymarket Park)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (1-5, 4.91 ERA, 51.1 IP, 55K)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Emmett Olson (5-2, 4.02 ERA, 56.0 IP, 59K)
TV: BTN
Saturday, April 29
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 2 p.m.
Location: Lincoln, Neb. (Haymarket Park)
Minnesota Starter: RHP George Klassen (1-5, 5.12 ERA, 38.2 IP, 36K)
Nebraska Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
Sunday, April 30
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 1 p.m.
Location: Lincoln, Neb. (Haymarket Park)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (2-3, 3.35 ERA, 51.0 IP, 42K)
Nebraska Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-28, 4-8 Big Ten) travel to Lincoln, Neb., to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-15-1, 7-5 Big Ten) in a three-game series this weekend. Friday's game will be on BTN at 7 p.m. while Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) will be streamed on B1G+.
BIG TEN STANDINGS UPDATE
-Minnesota (4-8) is in 11th place in the B1G standings through four series. The top eight make the B1G Tournament in Omaha, Neb., from May 23-28.
-Nebraska is in a four-team logjam for fourth place at 7-5 in the league.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota fell 10-3 to NDSU on Tuesday before taking down St. Thomas 9-4 on Wednesday. Brady Counsell hit a two-run home run and a two-run double in the win vs. the Tommies.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
-Nebraska is led by fourth-year head coach Will Bolt. in year two, Bolt led NU to the NCAA Regionals, where they fell to No. 1 Arkansas in the regional final.
-The Huskers, who were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, are led by Friday starter Emmett Olson, second baseman Max Anderson and shortstop Brice Matthews, who were all named Preseason Big Ten Players to Watch.
-Anderson (.406) and Matthews (.401) rank second and third in the Big Ten in hitting while Olson ranks third in innings pitched with 56.0.
-NU ranks second in the conference in hitting in both batting average (.306) and home runs (64).
-The Huskers (22-15-1, 7-5 Big Ten) are 10-4 at home this season, including 5-1 in conference play.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota is 31-35-1 all-time vs. Nebraska. The Gophers took two of three last year in Minneapolis.
-Nebraska won game one of the series 12-5 before Minnesota won game two, 9-8, in 12 innings. Boston Merila hit the game-winning RBI single in the 12th. The Gophers closed out the series with a 3-1 win on Sunday, led by 7.0 innings with eight strikeouts by right-hander Aidan Maldonado.
-The last time the two met in Lincoln was in 2018, when the Gophers took two of three from March 23-25.
'U' WINS FIRST B1G ROAD SERIES SINCE 2019
-The 'U' took two of three from Ohio State (March 31-Apr. 2) to win its first conference road series since May 16-18, 2019.
-Trailing 2-0 in the ninth on Mar. 31, Brady Counsell and Weber Neels hit home runs to tie the game before Jake Perry hit a game-winning RBI double.
-On April 2, the Gophers got 6.0 innings of two-run ball from Richie Holetz. The offense scored five of its six runs in the second inning to take control.
GOPHERS SUFFER HEARTBREAKER SUNDAY AT ILLINOIS
-Minnesota led 5-3 with two outs Sunday at Illinois. The game was thought to be over when center fielder Brett Bateman made a jumping catch at the wall. Unfortunately, the ball popped out of his glove and over the fence for a solo home run. After an infield single by the next hitter, the Illini walked it off with a two-run home run to win, 6-5.
NOVOTNY FINALLY PICKS UP FIRST WIN
-Despite five straight outings going 5.2-or-more innings with three-plus K's, Friday starter Tucker Novotny had yet to pick up his first win of 2023.
-That changed Apr. 14 vs. Iowa, when he struck out eight in 6.0 innings, giving up just three earned runs.
ROONEY RUNNING THE TABLE IN THE BULLPEN
-Minnesota left-hander Noah Rooney has been on a team out of the bullpen. In his last nine outings, Rooney has gone 23.2 innings, striking out 15 and allowing just four earned runs. His 3.34 ERA is the best of any Gophers bullpen member.
KLASSEN HAVING BIG REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON
-Redshirt sophomore right-hander George Klassen was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after a career performance against Houston. He went 7.2 innings (career-best), striking out eight while allowing no earned runs and just one hit.
-Klassen has thrown a career-high 38.2 innings this year after combining to pitch in just 7.2 innings his first two. He redshirted in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and battled back from injury last year.
-He's listed as a top-five 2023 MLB Draft prospect by both DI Baseball and Perfect Game.
GOPHERS IN THE PROS
-2018 Gophers All-American shortstop Terrin Vavra was the second Gopher to make his Major League debut. He played in 40 games, hitting .258 with one home run, 12 RBI and 30 total hits. He joined the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2022 and played the rest of the season in the big leagues.
-Vavra has played in 15 games this year for the Orioles, totaling six hits in 23 at-bats (.231) with three walks and five runs scored.
REACHED BASE STREAKS
-Junior designated hitter Boston Merila currently leads Minnesota with a 19-game reached base streak. He hasn't not reached base in a game since March 17 against Houston.
YOUTH MOVEMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
-With an average age of just 19.9 years old, the Golden Gophers have the youngest roster in the Big Ten conference. Of the everyday starters at the 'U', two are freshmen, three are sophomores, three are juniors and there's just one senior.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Michigan for a three-game series next weekend at Siebert Field.
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 7 p.m.
Location: Lincoln, Neb. (Haymarket Park)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (1-5, 4.91 ERA, 51.1 IP, 55K)
Nebraska Starter: LHP Emmett Olson (5-2, 4.02 ERA, 56.0 IP, 59K)
TV: BTN
Saturday, April 29
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 2 p.m.
Location: Lincoln, Neb. (Haymarket Park)
Minnesota Starter: RHP George Klassen (1-5, 5.12 ERA, 38.2 IP, 36K)
Nebraska Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
Sunday, April 30
Minnesota at Nebraska
First Pitch: 1 p.m.
Location: Lincoln, Neb. (Haymarket Park)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (2-3, 3.35 ERA, 51.0 IP, 42K)
Nebraska Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
LINCOLN, Neb. -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-28, 4-8 Big Ten) travel to Lincoln, Neb., to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-15-1, 7-5 Big Ten) in a three-game series this weekend. Friday's game will be on BTN at 7 p.m. while Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) will be streamed on B1G+.
BIG TEN STANDINGS UPDATE
-Minnesota (4-8) is in 11th place in the B1G standings through four series. The top eight make the B1G Tournament in Omaha, Neb., from May 23-28.
-Nebraska is in a four-team logjam for fourth place at 7-5 in the league.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota fell 10-3 to NDSU on Tuesday before taking down St. Thomas 9-4 on Wednesday. Brady Counsell hit a two-run home run and a two-run double in the win vs. the Tommies.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
-Nebraska is led by fourth-year head coach Will Bolt. in year two, Bolt led NU to the NCAA Regionals, where they fell to No. 1 Arkansas in the regional final.
-The Huskers, who were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, are led by Friday starter Emmett Olson, second baseman Max Anderson and shortstop Brice Matthews, who were all named Preseason Big Ten Players to Watch.
-Anderson (.406) and Matthews (.401) rank second and third in the Big Ten in hitting while Olson ranks third in innings pitched with 56.0.
-NU ranks second in the conference in hitting in both batting average (.306) and home runs (64).
-The Huskers (22-15-1, 7-5 Big Ten) are 10-4 at home this season, including 5-1 in conference play.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota is 31-35-1 all-time vs. Nebraska. The Gophers took two of three last year in Minneapolis.
-Nebraska won game one of the series 12-5 before Minnesota won game two, 9-8, in 12 innings. Boston Merila hit the game-winning RBI single in the 12th. The Gophers closed out the series with a 3-1 win on Sunday, led by 7.0 innings with eight strikeouts by right-hander Aidan Maldonado.
-The last time the two met in Lincoln was in 2018, when the Gophers took two of three from March 23-25.
'U' WINS FIRST B1G ROAD SERIES SINCE 2019
-The 'U' took two of three from Ohio State (March 31-Apr. 2) to win its first conference road series since May 16-18, 2019.
-Trailing 2-0 in the ninth on Mar. 31, Brady Counsell and Weber Neels hit home runs to tie the game before Jake Perry hit a game-winning RBI double.
-On April 2, the Gophers got 6.0 innings of two-run ball from Richie Holetz. The offense scored five of its six runs in the second inning to take control.
GOPHERS SUFFER HEARTBREAKER SUNDAY AT ILLINOIS
-Minnesota led 5-3 with two outs Sunday at Illinois. The game was thought to be over when center fielder Brett Bateman made a jumping catch at the wall. Unfortunately, the ball popped out of his glove and over the fence for a solo home run. After an infield single by the next hitter, the Illini walked it off with a two-run home run to win, 6-5.
NOVOTNY FINALLY PICKS UP FIRST WIN
-Despite five straight outings going 5.2-or-more innings with three-plus K's, Friday starter Tucker Novotny had yet to pick up his first win of 2023.
-That changed Apr. 14 vs. Iowa, when he struck out eight in 6.0 innings, giving up just three earned runs.
ROONEY RUNNING THE TABLE IN THE BULLPEN
-Minnesota left-hander Noah Rooney has been on a team out of the bullpen. In his last nine outings, Rooney has gone 23.2 innings, striking out 15 and allowing just four earned runs. His 3.34 ERA is the best of any Gophers bullpen member.
KLASSEN HAVING BIG REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON
-Redshirt sophomore right-hander George Klassen was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on March 20 after a career performance against Houston. He went 7.2 innings (career-best), striking out eight while allowing no earned runs and just one hit.
-Klassen has thrown a career-high 38.2 innings this year after combining to pitch in just 7.2 innings his first two. He redshirted in 2021 due to Tommy John surgery and battled back from injury last year.
-He's listed as a top-five 2023 MLB Draft prospect by both DI Baseball and Perfect Game.
GOPHERS IN THE PROS
-2018 Gophers All-American shortstop Terrin Vavra was the second Gopher to make his Major League debut. He played in 40 games, hitting .258 with one home run, 12 RBI and 30 total hits. He joined the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2022 and played the rest of the season in the big leagues.
-Vavra has played in 15 games this year for the Orioles, totaling six hits in 23 at-bats (.231) with three walks and five runs scored.
REACHED BASE STREAKS
-Junior designated hitter Boston Merila currently leads Minnesota with a 19-game reached base streak. He hasn't not reached base in a game since March 17 against Houston.
YOUTH MOVEMENT IN MINNEAPOLIS
-With an average age of just 19.9 years old, the Golden Gophers have the youngest roster in the Big Ten conference. Of the everyday starters at the 'U', two are freshmen, three are sophomores, three are juniors and there's just one senior.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts Michigan for a three-game series next weekend at Siebert Field.
Highlights: Gophers 10, Kansas 3
Saturday, February 28
Highlights: Gophers 12, Kansas 5
Friday, February 27
Highlights: Gophers 7, Kansas 8
Wednesday, February 25
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Northeastern
Wednesday, February 25