University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
3-0
Ball State
3-1
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Kruzan, Marcus (1-0)
L: Leduc, Zach (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Landsnes, Tommy 1
Batting:
2B: Richter, Easton 1
3B: Sutherland, Charlie 1
RBI: Allen, Ty 2 ; Hellum, Brayden 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 3 ; Spanier, Jack 1
SF: Allen, Ty 1 ; Hellum, Brayden 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hunt, Sam 1 ; Richter, Easton 1 ; Mosh, Jack 2 ; Sutherland, Charlie 2 ; Spanier, Jack 2
SB: Hunt, Sam 1 ; Lippe, Michael 1 ; Neels, Weber 1 ; Bello, Jack 1 ; Mosh, Jack 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 2 ; Spanier, Jack 2
HBP: Mosh, Jack 1 ; Sutherland, Charlie 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Gophers Shutout Ball State 8-0, Complete First Opening Weekend Sweep Since 2014
2/15/2026 1:36:00 PM | Baseball
DELAND, FLA. – The University of Minnesota baseball team closed out their three game opening weekend against Ball State University this morning, taking down the Cardinals 8-0 and securing the program's first opening weekend series sweep since 2014.
Marcus Kruzan, Adam Urban and Brandon Jaenke combined for the four hit shutout. Kruzan started on the mound, going five shutout innings and striking out five. Urban dealt out of the bullpen, going three shutout innings and striking out five.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gophers jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, with Jack Spanier coming across to score on a sacrifice fly from Charlie Sutherland.
Minnesota extended their lead in the third in a much similar way, adding one to the board after Sutherland came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Ty Allen.
Sutherland continued his weekend at the plate in the bottom of the fourth, lacing a triple down the right field line to score Jack Mosh and Jack Spanier.
Allen eventually pushed Sutherland across the plate with an RBI single before the end of the inning, giving the Gophers a 5-0 lead heading into the fifth.
Minnesota kept piling on in the fifth with an RBI single from Spanier, scoring Sam Hunt and pushing Mosh over to third.
A double steal on the next at bat allowed Spanier to reach second and Mosh to score to make it 7-0.
The Gophers added their final run in the bottom of the eighth, with Easton Richter coming across to score on a sacrifice fly from Brayden Hellum.
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns to the Sunshine State this week for a matchup with Florida Gulf Coast. All the action against the Eagles is currently set for Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 5:30 PM (CT).
GAME NOTES
» Kruzan, Urban, and Jaenke combined to throw a four-hit shutout.
» Kruzan struck out five Cardinals hitters and Urban fanned five.
» Minnesota's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed three runs across.
» Minnesota grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» The Gophers out-hit the Cardinals at a 6-4 clip.
» Both Sutherland and Spanier stole two bases in Sunday's game.
» The Gophers swiped nine bases as a team.
» Minnesota pitchers limited Ball State to 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 34 Ball State hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out 10 total.
» The Gophers drew nine walks from Ball State pitching.
» Sutherland led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 1 for 2 with a triple and three RBIs.