University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
13-15, 2-5
Michigan
16-19, 7-3
Minnesota Splits Doubleheader with Michigan
4/13/2024 5:34:00 PM | Baseball
Wolverines take game one, Gophers bounce back to win game two.
GAME 1 | Michigan 8, Minnesota 1
ANN ARBOR, MI – Junior Brady Counsell went 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in an 8-1 loss to the Michigan Wolverines in game one on Saturday.
Junior Will Semb (1-3) got the ball to start for Minnesota (13-15, 2-5) and took the loss.
Freshman Tyler Hemmesch was a bright spot for the Gophers, coming out of the bullpen and throwing three innings, giving up one run on two hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Offensively, the 'U' was led by Counsell, who went 1-for-4 on the day with a home run and an RBI. Junior Ike Mezzenga had a solid game at the plate as well, going 2-for-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 7-0, Counsell put Minnesota on the board with a two-out solo home run off sophomore Kurt Barr. The home run spoiled a complete game shutout for Barr.
GAME NOTES
» Counsell hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season.
» Jake Perry and Josh Fitzgerald both snapped their double-digit on base streaks.
GAME 2 | Minnesota 8, Michigan 3
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Junior Connor Wietgrefe was dominant on Saturday, striking out eight Michigan hitters over six innings of work to help lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the Wolverines 8-3.
In addition to his eight strikeouts, Wietgrefe (4-2) threw six innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on three hits and walking three for Minnesota (14-15, 3-5).
Freshman Kyle Remington came out of the bullpen and threw 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout.
Offensively, the Gophers were paced by junior Jake Perry, who went 3-for-4 on the day with a home run, a walk, four RBIs and two stolen bases. Sophomore Kris Hokenson put together a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and an RBI. Junior Brady Counsell also helped out for Minnesota, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After both teams were held scoreless in the first, Minnesota's offense put up six runs in the second inning. The 'U' batted around in the inning and got a three-run home run off the bat of Perry and a two-run single from Counsell after Jack Spanier picked up an RBI single on a comebacker to the pitcher.
The Gophers then held the Wolverines scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Minnesota picked up two runs, including one on a solo dinger off the bat of Hokenson, which brought the score to 8-0 in favor of the Maroon and Gold.
Michigan put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Minnesota still coasted to the 8-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» The Gophers have scored at least five runs in an inning six different times this season.
» Wietgrefe struck out eight Wolverines hitters.
» Perry drove in a career-high four runs for Minnesota and stole a career-best two bases.
» Minnesota went 5-for-14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 36 Michigan hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls, three of which were turned into double plays.
UP NEXT
The Gophers and Wolverines will square off in a rubber match on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. CT/1:00 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kurt Barr (4-2)
L: Semb, Will (1-3)
Batting:
HR: Counsell, Brady 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 1
Batting:
HR: AJ Garcia 1 ; Mitch Voit 1 ; Dylan Stanton 1
RBI: AJ Garcia 3 ; Mitch Voit 2 ; Dylan Stanton 2 ; Kyle Dernedde 1
SH: AJ Garcia 1
SF: Dylan Stanton 1 ; Kyle Dernedde 1
Base Running:
RUNS: AJ Garcia 2 ; Mitch Voit 1 ; Stephen Hrustich 1 ; Dylan Stanton 1 ; Cole Caruso 1 ; Mack Timbrook 2
HBP: AJ Garcia 1 ; Stephen Hrustich 1
