University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, May 5
Minneapolis, MN
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Minnesota Hosts Michigan for Alumni Weekend
5/4/2023 12:52:00 AM | Baseball
Game one is Friday at 6 p.m. CT
Friday, May 5
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (1-5, 5.24 ERA, 56.2 IP, 62K)
Michigan Starter: LHP Connor O'Halloran (7-3, 2.85 ERA, 79.0 IP, 84K)
TV: B1G+
Talent: Dom Dandrea (Play-By-Play), Rob Fornasiere (Analyst)
Saturday, May 6
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Minnesota Starter: RHP George Klassen (1-6, 5.56 ERA, 43.2 IP, 42K)
Michigan Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
Talent: Dom Dandrea (Play-By-Play), Rob Fornasiere (Analyst), Blake Mortenson (Sideline)
Sunday, May 7
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (2-4, 4.45 ERA, 54.2 IP, 45K)
Michigan Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
Talent: Dom Dandrea (Play-By-Play), Rob Fornasiere (Analyst), Matthew Whitlock (Sideline)
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-30, 5-10 Big Ten) host the Michigan Wolverines (22-20, 9-6 Big Ten) in a critical series for their Big Ten Tournament hopes. Friday and Saturday's games are set for 6 p.m. starts while Sunday's first pitch is at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at GopherSports.com while B1G+ is set to provide streaming.
MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS
-There will be a finals Study Break Tailgate from 4:30-6 p.m. on Friday. This includes yard games, FREE Chick-Fil-A, and the first 200 students will get a fidget popper ball. Admission to Baseball and Softball is FREE for all UMN students.
-Saturday is 'Champions Day' of Alumni Weekend, with the 1973, 1983 and 2003 Big Ten Champions teams set to be honored.
-Sunday's game is 'Bark at the Park' with all fans able to bring their furry friends to the game.
HISTORICAL NOTES
-The 'U' is in its 135th year in program history.
-John Anderson is in his 42nd year at the helm of Gopher Baseball, holding a 1,359-994-3 (.578) record. This includes a 609-410 (.597) B1G mark. Under his watch, the Gophers have won 11 B1G titles and hold 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
-The winningest coach in Big Ten history, Anderson won his 600th conference game last April vs. Penn State. He's the only B1G coach to reach that mark.
CHAMPIONS WEEKEND AT SIEBERT FIELD
-The Gophers will honor the 1973, 1983 and 2023 Big Ten Champion teams on Saturday during the game at Siebert Field. Each team will be recognized and honored for their accomplishments on the 50, 40 and 20-year title anniversaries.
-Alumni from all teams are welcome to come out and celebrate with a pregame reception in the courtyard by Bierman Field Athletic Building.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota fell in two of three to Nebraska this past weekend. They won 9-7 Friday before 18-0 and 11-5 defeats on Saturday and Sunday.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
-Michigan is led by first-year head coach Tracy Smith. Smith spent seven years (2015-21) at Arizona State, making four NCAA Regionals. He also coached at IU for nine years (2006-14), making three regionals.
-The Wolverines (9-6) are in a three-way tie for third in the Big Ten with three weeks to go.
-At the plate, UM is led by Ted Burton, who is hitting .307 with 9 home runs and 34 RBI, both team-bests.
-Friday starter Connor O'Halloran leads the Big Ten in lowest ERA (.285), innings pitched (79.0) and strikeouts (84). He places second in OBA (.200).
-UM fell in two games to Oklahoma State last weekend at home. In B1G play, they hold a sweep of PSU and series wins over Illinois and Michigan State.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota is 105-95 all-time vs. Michigan. The two teams last played in 2021, when the Wolverines swept the Gophers at Siebert Field.
BATEMAN PACING GOPHERS ONCE AGAIN
-Junior center fielder Brett Bateman had a team-best 22 multi-hit games as a sophomore in 2022, including 17 two-hit and five three-hit games.
-In 2023, he ranks first on the team with 51 hits and a .338 average with 17 multi-hit games. So far in Big Ten play, Bateman is hitting .390 with 23 hits, four doubles, five RBI and six stolen bases.
-Bateman has been amazing in the field, posting a perfect fielding percentage with four assists. His catch at the wall Mar. 17 vs. Houston was SportsCenter's No. 4 play of the night.
GOPHERS WIN THRILLER FRIDAY AT NEBRASKA
-Minnesota trailed 5-4 heading into the ninth inning on Friday night before torching NU for five runs. After scoring on an error to tie the game, a bases-loaded walk from Jake Perry and a three-run double from Kris Hokenson gave the 'U' a 9-5 lead. Noah Rooney and Seth Clausen shut it down in the ninth as the Gophers clawed back for a 9-7 game one win.
GOPHERS AT SIEBERT FIELD
-Minnesota is 63-48 when playing at Siebert Field in the last seven seasons.
-The 'U' went 2-8 in 2021, 13-7 in 2019, 12-2 in 2018, 10-9 2017, 16-7 in 2016 at Siebert Field.
-Minnesota went 7-11 at Siebert Field last season and is 4-5 at its home confines in 2023.
GAMES AGAINST NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS
-Minnesota is scheduled to play seven teams that made last year's NCAA Tournament. The Gophers will play UCSB, OSU, Gonzaga, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Maryland and Ole Miss (National Champion). 13 of their 56 scheduled games are against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
-So far, Minnesota is 1-6 in 2023 against teams that made the tournament last year.
REACHED BASE STREAKS
-Junior designated hitter Boston Merila currently leads Minnesota with a 22-game reached base streak. He hasn't not reached base in a game since March 17 against Houston.
-Merila was hot last week, going 9-for-15 (.600) in five games. He's hitting .338 in 2023, a team-best.
BIG TEN CATEGORY LEADERS
-RHP George Klassen ranks sixth in lowest opponent batting average (.220) and second in hits (33).
-LHP Tucker Novotny has struck out 22 batters looking in 2023, which ranks second in the B1G. His 56.2 innings rank ninth and his 62 K's rank eighth.
-Brady Counsell ranks 3rd in the B1G in assists (116).
-Brett Bateman ranks fifth in stolen bases (16).
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.
BIG TEN STANDINGS UPDATE
-Minnesota (5-10) is in 11th place in the B1G. The top 8 make the B1G Tournament May 23-28.
UP NEXT
Minnesota travels to Maryland for a three-game series against the Terrapins from Friday through Sunday.
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Minnesota Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (1-5, 5.24 ERA, 56.2 IP, 62K)
Michigan Starter: LHP Connor O'Halloran (7-3, 2.85 ERA, 79.0 IP, 84K)
TV: B1G+
Talent: Dom Dandrea (Play-By-Play), Rob Fornasiere (Analyst)
Saturday, May 6
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 6 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Minnesota Starter: RHP George Klassen (1-6, 5.56 ERA, 43.2 IP, 42K)
Michigan Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
Talent: Dom Dandrea (Play-By-Play), Rob Fornasiere (Analyst), Blake Mortenson (Sideline)
Sunday, May 7
Minnesota vs. Michigan
First Pitch: 1 p.m. CT
Location: Minneapolis, Minn. (Siebert Field)
Minnesota Starter: RHP Richie Holetz (2-4, 4.45 ERA, 54.2 IP, 45K)
Michigan Starter: TBA
TV: B1G+
Talent: Dom Dandrea (Play-By-Play), Rob Fornasiere (Analyst), Matthew Whitlock (Sideline)
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-30, 5-10 Big Ten) host the Michigan Wolverines (22-20, 9-6 Big Ten) in a critical series for their Big Ten Tournament hopes. Friday and Saturday's games are set for 6 p.m. starts while Sunday's first pitch is at 1 p.m. Live stats will be available at GopherSports.com while B1G+ is set to provide streaming.
MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS
-There will be a finals Study Break Tailgate from 4:30-6 p.m. on Friday. This includes yard games, FREE Chick-Fil-A, and the first 200 students will get a fidget popper ball. Admission to Baseball and Softball is FREE for all UMN students.
-Saturday is 'Champions Day' of Alumni Weekend, with the 1973, 1983 and 2003 Big Ten Champions teams set to be honored.
-Sunday's game is 'Bark at the Park' with all fans able to bring their furry friends to the game.
HISTORICAL NOTES
-The 'U' is in its 135th year in program history.
-John Anderson is in his 42nd year at the helm of Gopher Baseball, holding a 1,359-994-3 (.578) record. This includes a 609-410 (.597) B1G mark. Under his watch, the Gophers have won 11 B1G titles and hold 19 NCAA Tournament appearances.
-The winningest coach in Big Ten history, Anderson won his 600th conference game last April vs. Penn State. He's the only B1G coach to reach that mark.
CHAMPIONS WEEKEND AT SIEBERT FIELD
-The Gophers will honor the 1973, 1983 and 2023 Big Ten Champion teams on Saturday during the game at Siebert Field. Each team will be recognized and honored for their accomplishments on the 50, 40 and 20-year title anniversaries.
-Alumni from all teams are welcome to come out and celebrate with a pregame reception in the courtyard by Bierman Field Athletic Building.
LAST TIME OUT
-Minnesota fell in two of three to Nebraska this past weekend. They won 9-7 Friday before 18-0 and 11-5 defeats on Saturday and Sunday.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
-Michigan is led by first-year head coach Tracy Smith. Smith spent seven years (2015-21) at Arizona State, making four NCAA Regionals. He also coached at IU for nine years (2006-14), making three regionals.
-The Wolverines (9-6) are in a three-way tie for third in the Big Ten with three weeks to go.
-At the plate, UM is led by Ted Burton, who is hitting .307 with 9 home runs and 34 RBI, both team-bests.
-Friday starter Connor O'Halloran leads the Big Ten in lowest ERA (.285), innings pitched (79.0) and strikeouts (84). He places second in OBA (.200).
-UM fell in two games to Oklahoma State last weekend at home. In B1G play, they hold a sweep of PSU and series wins over Illinois and Michigan State.
SERIES HISTORY
-Minnesota is 105-95 all-time vs. Michigan. The two teams last played in 2021, when the Wolverines swept the Gophers at Siebert Field.
BATEMAN PACING GOPHERS ONCE AGAIN
-Junior center fielder Brett Bateman had a team-best 22 multi-hit games as a sophomore in 2022, including 17 two-hit and five three-hit games.
-In 2023, he ranks first on the team with 51 hits and a .338 average with 17 multi-hit games. So far in Big Ten play, Bateman is hitting .390 with 23 hits, four doubles, five RBI and six stolen bases.
-Bateman has been amazing in the field, posting a perfect fielding percentage with four assists. His catch at the wall Mar. 17 vs. Houston was SportsCenter's No. 4 play of the night.
GOPHERS WIN THRILLER FRIDAY AT NEBRASKA
-Minnesota trailed 5-4 heading into the ninth inning on Friday night before torching NU for five runs. After scoring on an error to tie the game, a bases-loaded walk from Jake Perry and a three-run double from Kris Hokenson gave the 'U' a 9-5 lead. Noah Rooney and Seth Clausen shut it down in the ninth as the Gophers clawed back for a 9-7 game one win.
GOPHERS AT SIEBERT FIELD
-Minnesota is 63-48 when playing at Siebert Field in the last seven seasons.
-The 'U' went 2-8 in 2021, 13-7 in 2019, 12-2 in 2018, 10-9 2017, 16-7 in 2016 at Siebert Field.
-Minnesota went 7-11 at Siebert Field last season and is 4-5 at its home confines in 2023.
GAMES AGAINST NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS
-Minnesota is scheduled to play seven teams that made last year's NCAA Tournament. The Gophers will play UCSB, OSU, Gonzaga, Vanderbilt, Michigan, Maryland and Ole Miss (National Champion). 13 of their 56 scheduled games are against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2022.
-So far, Minnesota is 1-6 in 2023 against teams that made the tournament last year.
REACHED BASE STREAKS
-Junior designated hitter Boston Merila currently leads Minnesota with a 22-game reached base streak. He hasn't not reached base in a game since March 17 against Houston.
-Merila was hot last week, going 9-for-15 (.600) in five games. He's hitting .338 in 2023, a team-best.
BIG TEN CATEGORY LEADERS
-RHP George Klassen ranks sixth in lowest opponent batting average (.220) and second in hits (33).
-LHP Tucker Novotny has struck out 22 batters looking in 2023, which ranks second in the B1G. His 56.2 innings rank ninth and his 62 K's rank eighth.
-Brady Counsell ranks 3rd in the B1G in assists (116).
-Brett Bateman ranks fifth in stolen bases (16).
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.
BIG TEN STANDINGS UPDATE
-Minnesota (5-10) is in 11th place in the B1G. The top 8 make the B1G Tournament May 23-28.
UP NEXT
Minnesota travels to Maryland for a three-game series against the Terrapins from Friday through Sunday.
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15