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Gophers Set to Host St. Olaf in Home Opener
3/12/2024 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
Wednesday, Mar. 13
Minnesota vs. St. Olaf
First Pitch: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Siebert Field
Gophers Starter: RHP Nick Argento
Oles Starter: TBD
TV: Big Ten+
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota baseball team (6-7) is ready to host their home opener on Wednesday against St. Olaf College (3-4) in a midweek clash at Siebert Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Last Time Out
The Gophers continued their west coast roadtrip with a three-game series at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Mar. 7-9. After falling in game one, the 'U' won game two in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind 8-5 victory thanks to a three-run home run by Ike Mezzenga in the top of the ninth inning. The Gophers dropped game three, 5-3, despite hitting their 13th home run in seven games.
Scouting the Oles
-The Oles are led on offense by senior Sam Lavin and sophomore Mason Buck.
-Lavin is slashing .394/.459/.788 for the season with three home runs, 14 RBIs and 11 runs scored in eight games.
-Lavin also leads the Oles with 10.0 innings pitched this season, posting a 1-1 record with 13 strikeouts and just three walks.
-Buck leads the team with a .462 average in eight games, collecting six RBIs and eight runs scored.
Opponent Series History
-The Gophers and the Oles have faced off 28 times in their long history, with the last meeting coming on May 6, 1998.
-The 'U' has won 27 straight games against St. Olaf after losing the first-ever matchup between the two teams.
Remington Named B1G Freshman of the Week
-RHP Kyle Remington was named co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week for Mar. 4-10.
-The Grand Rapids, Mich. native pitched pitched 3.1 innings of relief for the Gophers, striking out six of the 13 batters he faced.
-He did not allow a run in two appearances, giving up just one walk and two hits while holding opponents to hitting .167 off of him.
-This is Remington's first Big Ten weekly honor.
Sophomore Sluggers
-Named 2025 MLB Top Prospects by D1 Baseball, Weber Neels and Kris Hokenson have picked up right where they left off as prominent freshmen.
-Hokenson leads the team with 13 RBIs in 12 games while slashing .357/.460/.714 in 42 at-bats.
-The St. Louis Park, Minn. native currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten in OPS at 1.174.
-On the Gophers' seven-game road trip, Hokenson compiled 10 hits (3 HR's and 2 2B's) and drove in 10 runs. He had a 1.493 OPS and a .455 average while drawing four walks and striking out just three times in 26 plate appearances.
-Neels has split time at catcher and first base and is slashing .289/.411/.356 in 13 games played. He has 11 RBIs for the season, including a game-tying two RBI double against Gonzaga on Saturday.
Gophers Produce Power
-The Gophers slugged 13 home runs on their seven-game road trip out west, including five games with multiple home runs.
-Nine different Gophers now have hit at least one home run this year, led by Mezzenga (4) and Hokenson (3).
-The Gophers hit back-to-back home runs in back-to-back games against Pacific on Mar. 3 and 4. The last time the Gophers hit back-to-back homers was Feb. 19, 2022.
-Minnesota has hit at least one home run in each of their past seven games and eight of their last nine.
Productive Pitching
-The Gophers' pitching staff has put together impressive numbers among Big Ten ranks to begin the season. The Gophers have allowed the second-fewest runs in the Big Ten this season (71 R, 60 ER).
-As a team, the 'U' ranks fifth in the Big Ten in ERA (4.74) and fourth in opponent hitting (.237).
-Junior Connor Wietgrefe leads Minnesota starters with a 3.00, which ranks 10th among all Big Ten hurlers this season.
-Senior transfer Justin Thorsteinson leads the Minnesota bullpen and leads the Big Ten with the fewest hits and runs allowed this season. His 1.98 ERA and .152 opponent average both rank fifth among Big Ten pitchers this season.
-Junior Will Semb ranks sixth in the Big Ten in opponent batting average, holding hitters to .187. He is also tied for fifth in the conference in strikeouts with 26.
What's on Deck
The Gophers head back east to North Carolina on Friday. The team will play a three-game series at Elon.
Minnesota vs. St. Olaf
First Pitch: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Siebert Field
Gophers Starter: RHP Nick Argento
Oles Starter: TBD
TV: Big Ten+
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota baseball team (6-7) is ready to host their home opener on Wednesday against St. Olaf College (3-4) in a midweek clash at Siebert Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Last Time Out
The Gophers continued their west coast roadtrip with a three-game series at Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Mar. 7-9. After falling in game one, the 'U' won game two in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind 8-5 victory thanks to a three-run home run by Ike Mezzenga in the top of the ninth inning. The Gophers dropped game three, 5-3, despite hitting their 13th home run in seven games.
Scouting the Oles
-The Oles are led on offense by senior Sam Lavin and sophomore Mason Buck.
-Lavin is slashing .394/.459/.788 for the season with three home runs, 14 RBIs and 11 runs scored in eight games.
-Lavin also leads the Oles with 10.0 innings pitched this season, posting a 1-1 record with 13 strikeouts and just three walks.
-Buck leads the team with a .462 average in eight games, collecting six RBIs and eight runs scored.
Opponent Series History
-The Gophers and the Oles have faced off 28 times in their long history, with the last meeting coming on May 6, 1998.
-The 'U' has won 27 straight games against St. Olaf after losing the first-ever matchup between the two teams.
Remington Named B1G Freshman of the Week
-RHP Kyle Remington was named co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week for Mar. 4-10.
-The Grand Rapids, Mich. native pitched pitched 3.1 innings of relief for the Gophers, striking out six of the 13 batters he faced.
-He did not allow a run in two appearances, giving up just one walk and two hits while holding opponents to hitting .167 off of him.
-This is Remington's first Big Ten weekly honor.
Sophomore Sluggers
-Named 2025 MLB Top Prospects by D1 Baseball, Weber Neels and Kris Hokenson have picked up right where they left off as prominent freshmen.
-Hokenson leads the team with 13 RBIs in 12 games while slashing .357/.460/.714 in 42 at-bats.
-The St. Louis Park, Minn. native currently ranks fourth in the Big Ten in OPS at 1.174.
-On the Gophers' seven-game road trip, Hokenson compiled 10 hits (3 HR's and 2 2B's) and drove in 10 runs. He had a 1.493 OPS and a .455 average while drawing four walks and striking out just three times in 26 plate appearances.
-Neels has split time at catcher and first base and is slashing .289/.411/.356 in 13 games played. He has 11 RBIs for the season, including a game-tying two RBI double against Gonzaga on Saturday.
Gophers Produce Power
-The Gophers slugged 13 home runs on their seven-game road trip out west, including five games with multiple home runs.
-Nine different Gophers now have hit at least one home run this year, led by Mezzenga (4) and Hokenson (3).
-The Gophers hit back-to-back home runs in back-to-back games against Pacific on Mar. 3 and 4. The last time the Gophers hit back-to-back homers was Feb. 19, 2022.
-Minnesota has hit at least one home run in each of their past seven games and eight of their last nine.
Productive Pitching
-The Gophers' pitching staff has put together impressive numbers among Big Ten ranks to begin the season. The Gophers have allowed the second-fewest runs in the Big Ten this season (71 R, 60 ER).
-As a team, the 'U' ranks fifth in the Big Ten in ERA (4.74) and fourth in opponent hitting (.237).
-Junior Connor Wietgrefe leads Minnesota starters with a 3.00, which ranks 10th among all Big Ten hurlers this season.
-Senior transfer Justin Thorsteinson leads the Minnesota bullpen and leads the Big Ten with the fewest hits and runs allowed this season. His 1.98 ERA and .152 opponent average both rank fifth among Big Ten pitchers this season.
-Junior Will Semb ranks sixth in the Big Ten in opponent batting average, holding hitters to .187. He is also tied for fifth in the conference in strikeouts with 26.
What's on Deck
The Gophers head back east to North Carolina on Friday. The team will play a three-game series at Elon.
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