University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, May 11
Minneapolis, MN
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
22-22, 8-12
21
vs
3
Michigan State
22-24, 10-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Michigan State
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
3
10
2
Minnesota
5
1
1
2
6
2
2
2
X
21
17
2
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wietgrefe, Connor (7-3)
L: Powers,Nick (6-4)
Batting:
RBI: McKay,Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dresselhouse,Jake 1 ; Williams,Nick 1 ; Lozier,Landen 1
PO: Frank,Jack 1
Batting:
2B: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Neels, Weber 2 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Hunt, Sam 2 ; Larson, Jake 1
HR: Neels, Weber 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Hunt, Sam 1
RBI: Neels, Weber 4 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 5 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 2 ; Merila, Boston 3 ; Hunt, Sam 4 ; Larson, Jake 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Perry, Jake 3 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Neels, Weber 3 ; Bork, Kyle 1 ; Fitzgerald, Josh 2 ; Hokenson, Kris 1 ; Mezzenga, Ike 1 ; Berkland, Drew 2 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Jurgella, Brady 1 ; Hunt, Sam 2 ; Spanier, Jack 2
HBP: Sutherland, Charlie 1 ; Jurgella, Brady 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
5
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
OF/LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C/INF
/ Baseball
IF/OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Win Big on John Anderson Day in Minnesota
5/11/2024 6:44:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS – In a day declared by Governor Tim Walz as 'John Anderson Day' in the state of Minnesota, the Gopher baseball team rewarded their coach with a 21-3 victory over the Michigan State Spartans.
Prior to Saturday's game, the University of Minnesota baseball program retired No. 14, which has been worn by head coach John Anderson for 49 years when he stepped onto campus as a student-athlete.
"It was overwhelming in some ways, but very very touching to see all of the alumni come back and be a part of the celebration," Anderson said about the pregame ceremony. "I've always talked about the importance of relationships and how important they've been to me throughout my career, and I think that was a testament to those relationships. It was overwhelming, but so touching, so gratifying and brought back so many memories."
Despite the pregame festivities surrounding Anderson's final homestand, the Gophers kept their focus, putting up 21 runs for the first time since the 2018 season.
"We had to get out here early today, we had to move the timeline up, so to sit there with all the distractions and all of the different things going on, for the team to show up and put an effort together like that is pretty special and it meant a great deal to me."
The 'U' put runs on the board in all eight innings that they stepped to the plate. Six Minnesota hitters had multi-RBI games, led by Josh Fitzgerald with five. Weber Neels and Sam Hunt drove in four runs a piece, while Boston Merila sent three runners home. Ike Mezzenga and Jake Larson rounded out the list with each of them driving in a pair.
Connor Wietgrefe picked up his seventh win of the season after pitching 5.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts.
"It was an unbelievable day in so many different ways. It was very touching to me emotionally, and I am very grateful for all of the work that went into it and all of the people that put it all together," Anderson concluded.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With two runners on in the bottom of the first inning, Fitzgerald drove in his first run of the day with an RBI single that scored Jake Perry. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Merila ripped a bases-clearing double to left center. Hunt followed with a double of his own to score Merila and make it 5-0 after one inning of play.
After solo home runs by Neels and Mezzenga in the next two innings, Fitzgerald tacked on two more with another single to make it 9-0 after four complete.
Hunt stepped back up to the plate in the fifth and slugged his second homer of the year off the scoreboard in right to extend the Gophers lead. The Maroon and Gold then loaded the bases back up for Neels who doubled to left center and wiped the bases clean. The next batter up, Fitzgerald, then slugged his ninth home run of the season to make it 15-0 after five.
The Spartans scratched one run across in the top of the sixth, but pinch hitter Jake Larson stepped to the plate and lined a two-RBI double to right center for an immediate response.
Michigan State tallied two in the top of the seventh, but Hunt collected his third extra-base hit of the day in the bottom half to drive in two more and give the Gophers a 19-3 lead.
In their final at-bats of the day, the 'U' scored two more times off of an RBI double by Kris Hokenson, followed by an RBI groundout by Mezzenga to coast to the 21-3 victory.
GAME NOTES
» The Gopher baseball program retired the No. 14 in a pregame ceremony.
» Minnesota got three-hit games from three different hitters - Neels, Fitzgerald and Hunt.
» Neels (4), Fitzgerald (5) and Hunt (4) all set new career-highs for RBIs in a game, while Merila (3) tied his career best.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Five Golden Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Minnesota hitters slugged four homers in the ballgame for the first time since May 12, 2023.
» The Gophers' 21 runs was the most since they scored 22 on April 13, 2018.
» Minnesota went 9-for-22 (.409) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Michigan State to just 1-for-11 (.091) with runners in scoring position.
UP NEXT
The Gophers look to secure their second series victory on Sunday against Michigan State in their final home game of the 2024 season. After the game, Minnesota will honor its seven seniors for their contributions to the program.
Prior to Saturday's game, the University of Minnesota baseball program retired No. 14, which has been worn by head coach John Anderson for 49 years when he stepped onto campus as a student-athlete.
"It was overwhelming in some ways, but very very touching to see all of the alumni come back and be a part of the celebration," Anderson said about the pregame ceremony. "I've always talked about the importance of relationships and how important they've been to me throughout my career, and I think that was a testament to those relationships. It was overwhelming, but so touching, so gratifying and brought back so many memories."
Despite the pregame festivities surrounding Anderson's final homestand, the Gophers kept their focus, putting up 21 runs for the first time since the 2018 season.
"We had to get out here early today, we had to move the timeline up, so to sit there with all the distractions and all of the different things going on, for the team to show up and put an effort together like that is pretty special and it meant a great deal to me."
The 'U' put runs on the board in all eight innings that they stepped to the plate. Six Minnesota hitters had multi-RBI games, led by Josh Fitzgerald with five. Weber Neels and Sam Hunt drove in four runs a piece, while Boston Merila sent three runners home. Ike Mezzenga and Jake Larson rounded out the list with each of them driving in a pair.
Connor Wietgrefe picked up his seventh win of the season after pitching 5.2 innings, allowing one run on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts.
"It was an unbelievable day in so many different ways. It was very touching to me emotionally, and I am very grateful for all of the work that went into it and all of the people that put it all together," Anderson concluded.
HOW IT HAPPENED
With two runners on in the bottom of the first inning, Fitzgerald drove in his first run of the day with an RBI single that scored Jake Perry. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Merila ripped a bases-clearing double to left center. Hunt followed with a double of his own to score Merila and make it 5-0 after one inning of play.
After solo home runs by Neels and Mezzenga in the next two innings, Fitzgerald tacked on two more with another single to make it 9-0 after four complete.
Hunt stepped back up to the plate in the fifth and slugged his second homer of the year off the scoreboard in right to extend the Gophers lead. The Maroon and Gold then loaded the bases back up for Neels who doubled to left center and wiped the bases clean. The next batter up, Fitzgerald, then slugged his ninth home run of the season to make it 15-0 after five.
The Spartans scratched one run across in the top of the sixth, but pinch hitter Jake Larson stepped to the plate and lined a two-RBI double to right center for an immediate response.
Michigan State tallied two in the top of the seventh, but Hunt collected his third extra-base hit of the day in the bottom half to drive in two more and give the Gophers a 19-3 lead.
In their final at-bats of the day, the 'U' scored two more times off of an RBI double by Kris Hokenson, followed by an RBI groundout by Mezzenga to coast to the 21-3 victory.
GAME NOTES
» The Gopher baseball program retired the No. 14 in a pregame ceremony.
» Minnesota got three-hit games from three different hitters - Neels, Fitzgerald and Hunt.
» Neels (4), Fitzgerald (5) and Hunt (4) all set new career-highs for RBIs in a game, while Merila (3) tied his career best.
» Every Minnesota starter reached base safely in the win.
» Five Golden Gophers had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Minnesota hitters slugged four homers in the ballgame for the first time since May 12, 2023.
» The Gophers' 21 runs was the most since they scored 22 on April 13, 2018.
» Minnesota went 9-for-22 (.409) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Michigan State to just 1-for-11 (.091) with runners in scoring position.
UP NEXT
The Gophers look to secure their second series victory on Sunday against Michigan State in their final home game of the 2024 season. After the game, Minnesota will honor its seven seniors for their contributions to the program.
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