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Gophers Stun Rutgers in Walk-Off Fashion
5/19/2023 10:05:00 PM | Baseball
The Gophers trailed 6-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers rallied from a 6-1 deficit to take down the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 8-7, in walk-off fashion on Friday night.
Redshirt sophomore George Klassen lasted 3.2 innings, striking out three with four hits, four runs (three earned) and five walks. Senior Richie Holetz came in for Klassen in relief, going 5.0 innings, striking out three with three earned runs allowed. Connor Wietgrefe (2-3) pitched a third of an inning in the ninth and got the win.
Brady Counsell delivered a two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Minnesota its first and only lead at 8-7. With two down and no one on, consecutive singles by Weber Neels and Ike Mezzenga prefaced Counsell's deciding two-run blow.
The Gophers got three-hit outings from Brett Bateman (3-for-5, 2B, 1R) and Weber Neels (3-for-5, 2 RBI) to pace the offense. Counsell (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Kris Hokenson (2-for-4) also tallied multiple hits.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rutgers got the scoring going in the top of the first, getting a leadoff double from Josh Kuroda-Grauer, who later came around to score on an error.
The Gophers answered back in the first, tying the game after a Weber Neels single and a throwing error from RU's pitcher plated Bateman.
The Scarlet Knights retook the lead with two runs in the third, scoring on an RBI groundout and a sacrifice fly to go up 3-1. They added one each in the fourth and fifth on a wild pitch and a single and an error in the outfield to lead, 5-1.
RU added to their lead with a two-out RBI single in the seventh to extend its lead to 6-1.
Minnesota fought back in the seventh, getting consecutive pinch hit doubles from Larson and Bork to spark the offense and score the second run. Neels hit a two-out, two-run single to bring them both home and slice the lead in half to 6-4.
A Chris Brito solo shot put RU up 7-4 in the eighth before Jake Perry answered right back with a two-run shot of his own, cutting it to 7-6.
With two down in the ninth, Neels and Ike Mezzenga singled before Counsell blasted a double to the left-center gap, plating both to win the game. Mezzenga slid in safely, just barely ahead of the tag on a relay throw to secure the 8-7 win.
GAME NOTES
» The Gophers posted their first walk-off win in Big Ten play since May 7, 2022 vs. Nebraska (9-8, 12 innings).
» Brett Bateman posted his 23rd multi-hit game this season (sixth straight) and seventh three-hit outing (third straight).
» Weber Neels had his 10th career multi-hit game and sixth with multiple RBI (3-for-5, 2 RBI).
» Kyle Bork (1-for-2, double) reached base for the 12th consecutive game.
» Their five-run deficit was the biggest lead Minnesota has overcome to win a game this season.
» Rutgers stole eight bases, which is a season-high given up for a game by Minnesota.
» Jake Larson (1-for-2, double) recorded his team-best fourth hit (4-for-9) in pinch hitting situations this year.
» Rutgers was led offensively by Josh Kuroda-Grauer, who went 3-for-5 with a triple and three runs.
» Rutgers stole eight bases, which is a season-high given up for a game by Minnesota.
UP NEXT
The Gophers (18-33, 10-13 Big Ten) host Rutgers (32-21, 13-10 Big Ten) tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the season finale. B1G+ will stream.