University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
20-19, 6-9
Penn State
20-19, 7-11
Gophers Take Game Three Over Nittany Lions
4/28/2024 3:37:00 PM | Baseball
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Brady Counsell racked up four hits to help lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers past the Penn State Nittany Lions 15-11 on Sunday.
Junior Tucker Novotny (1-5) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Minnesota (20-19, 6-9). The left-hander went 2.1 innings, giving up three runs, one earned, on two hits, allowing two walks and striking out six. Freshman Will Whelan picked up his first career save after throwing 1.2 shutout innings while allowing no hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
In addition to his four hits, Counsell had a double and three RBI to lead the Gophers. Weber Neels and Josh Fitzgerald each stood out at the dish. Neels went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run and two RBI while Fitzgerald had two hits in five trips to the plate with a home run and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, Minnesota plated two runs when Fitzgerald left the yard with junior Ike Mezzenga aboard to take the 2-1 lead. The following inning, the 'U' picked up one more run on Neels' two-out solo home run to extend the lead.
Minnesota's lead had disappeared by the time the fourth inning came around and turned into a 5-3 Penn State advantage, when the Maroon and Gold re-gained control at 7-5 ignited by a two-run double off the bat of Counsell.
The Nittany Lions fought back, closing the gap to 7-6 until Minnesota added some insurance in the fifth. The Golden Gophers scored six runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of Jake Perry, bringing the score to 13-6 in favor of Minnesota.
Penn State got within 13-8 until the Gophers scored again in the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 15-8 after a bases loaded pinch hit single by Drew Berkland. Penn State put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Golden Gophers still secured the 15-11 win.
GAME NOTES
» Counsell compiled four hits on the day for Minnesota for the second time this season.
» Novotny struck out six Nittany Lions hitters in 2.1 innings.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Six Golden Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Nittany Lions at an 18-11 clip.
» Minnesota went 7-for-15 (.467) with runners in scoring position.
» The Golden Gophers got five hits in seven at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Jake Perry collected three or more RBIs for the sixth time this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Novotny, Tucker (1-5)
L: Sanchez, Frankie (2-2)
S: Whelan, Will (1)
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Perry, Jake 1 ; Neels, Weber 1
HR: Neels, Weber 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 3 ; Perry, Jake 3 ; Neels, Weber 2 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 2 ; Berkland, Drew 2 ; Taxdahl, Jack 1
SH: Hunt, Sam 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 2 ; Perry, Jake 2 ; Neels, Weber 2 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 3 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Hunt, Sam 1 ; Taxdahl, Jack 1 ; Spanier, Jack 1
SB: Fitzgerald, Josh 1
CS: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Spanier, Jack 1
HBP: Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1
PO: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Spanier, Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Jaconski, Joe 1 ; Marr, J.T. 1
HR: Jaconski, Joe 1
RBI: Jaconski, Joe 3 ; Marr, J.T. 1 ; Norris, Grant 1 ; Molinaro, Bryce 2 ; Maloney, Matt 1 ; Kelley, Tayven 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jaconski, Joe 2 ; Marsh, Bobby 1 ; Marr, J.T. 2 ; Cecere, Adam 2 ; Norris, Grant 1 ; Molinaro, Bryce 1 ; Kelley, Tayven 1 ; Hannon, Kyle 1
SB: Jaconski, Joe 1
CS: Marr, J.T. 1
HBP: Marsh, Bobby 1 ; Molinaro, Bryce 1 ; Maloney, Matt 1 ; Hannon, Kyle 1
