Mezzenga Tallies Six RBIs and Two Home Runs in 12-5 Win Over Pacific

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STOCKTON, Calif. -- Junior Ike Mezzenga put together a brilliant performance at the plate Monday, hitting two home runs to help propel the Minnesota Gophers past the Pacific Tigers, 12-5.

Senior Justin Thorsteinson (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Minnesota (5-5). The southpaw went two shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing one walk and striking out two.

Mezzenga went 2-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with six RBIs. Sophomore Kris Hokenson added to Mezzenga's power-hitting performance by going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI along with two walks. Senior Kyle Bork was on base four times for the night, going 1-for-2 with a double and three walks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 5-0 after the first, the Gophers put their first run on the board in the fourth inning after Weber Neels scored on a bases loaded wild pitch.

The Gopher bats came alive in the sixth inning. Hokenson led off the inning with a solo shot to right field. Mezzenga followed with a solo shot of his own, giving the Gophers their second straight day with back-to-back home runs, with Mezzenga taking part in each.

The 'U' scored two more runs on a sacrifice fly before Hokenson drew a bases loaded walk for his second RBI of the inning to make it 6-5. Mezzenga then came up to the plate again, this time with the bases loaded, and hit his second home run of the inning to give the Gophers a 10-5 lead.

Minnesota added one run each in the eighth and ninth innings to extend their lead and coast to the 12-5 win.

GAME NOTES
» The Gophers hit back-to-back home runs for the second straight game. Mezzenga was at the tail end of each.
» Mezzenga's grand slam was the first for the Gophers since Feb. 23, 2022.
» Mezzenga drove in six runs for Minnesota, the first Gopher to tally six RBIs since Mar. 7, 2021.
» With two home runs, Mezzenga is the first Gopher to have a multi-homer game since Mar. 18, 2023.
» The Minnesota pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Pacific hitters.
» Minnesota hitters hit three homers in the ballgame. The last time the 'U' had three home runs in a game was Apr. 11, 2023.
» May 16, 2023 was the last time the Gophers scored eight or more runs in an inning. The team scored nine in the sixth today.
» After allowing five runs in the first, Minnesota hurlers pitched eight straight scoreless innings.

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