University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-1
New Mexico
1-2
Semb and Thorsteinson Combine for 13 Strikeouts in 11-2 Victory over New Mexico
2/18/2024 9:32:00 PM | Baseball
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Junior Will Semb totaled seven strikeouts and senior Justin Thorsteinson added six more to help propel the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the New Mexico Lobos 11-2 on Sunday.
In addition to his seven strikeouts, Semb (1-0) went five innings, giving up one run on three hits and walking two for Minnesota (2-1). Thorsteinson's six strikeouts came in addition to his four innings of one-run ball where he allowed one hit while walking four to pick up the save.
In the batter's box, the 'U' was paced by junior Jake Larson, who went 2-for-5 on the day with a triple and two RBI. Freshman Charlie Sutherland put together a stellar performance at the dish in his debut, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Gophers got the scoring started early after loading the bases and scoring three runs on two walks and an infield hit in the bottom of the first.
The Lobos failed to push any runs across before the Gophers showed their patience on offense again in the second. Hokenson drew his second bases loaded walk of the night in a three-run inning for Minnesota to extend the lead to 6-0.
New Mexico picked up one run in the top of the fifth, but the Gophers answered immediately in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs, jump-started by Larson's RBI triple.
The Lobos added a run in the top of the eighth, but the 'U' answered again with a RBI single off the bat of freshman Jack Taxdahl in the first plate appearance of his career.
GAME NOTES
» The Minnesota pitching staff combined to strike out 13 New Mexico hitters.
» Brady Counsell led off the game with a hit for the third consecutive day.
» Four Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame: Boston Merila, Counsell, Sutherland and Larson.
» The Gophers out-hit the Lobos at a 10-4 clip.
» Minnesota drew eight walks from New Mexico pitching.
» Larson led Minnesota at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI.
» New Mexico was led offensively by junior Jake Holland, who went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Semb, Will (1-0)
L: PENGELLY, Dayne (0-1)
S: Thorsteinson, Justin (1)
Batting:
2B: WALKER, Khalil 1 ; HOLLAND, Jake 1
RBI: HOLLAND, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WALKER, Khalil 1 ; WOOD, Tye 1
HBP: WOOD, Tye 1
Batting:
2B: Merila, Boston 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1
3B: Larson, Jake 1
RBI: Merila, Boston 1 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Taxdahl, Jack 1 ; Hokenson, Kris 2 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Larson, Jake 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 3 ; Merila, Boston 2 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Larson, Jake 1 ; Berkland, Drew 1
HBP: Merila, Boston 1 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Neels, Weber 2
