MINNEAPOLIS – Minnesota scored the go-ahead run in a three-run fifth inning and four Golden Gopher pitchers combined on a two-hitter en route to a 5-1 victory over South Dakota State in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at Siebert Field.
The Golden Gophers improved to 16-18 overall, while SDSU dropped to 16-15 on the season.
Ryan McDonald provided what would be the only Jackrabbit run of the night by leading off the top of the second inning with his third home run of the season.
The Jackrabbits had several chances to add to their run total, but couldn't come up with a clutch hit after being issued eight free passes – seven walks and one hit batter – by Minnesota hurlers. SDSU loaded the bases on three walks following McDonald's home run in the second and also stranded two runners in the first, fifth and seventh innings. In all, SDSU stranded 10 men on the night.
Minnesota tied the game when a run scored on a double-play grounder in the fourth inning, then took the lead on only one hit in the three-run fifth. Jordan Kozicky and Eli Wilson drew back-to-back walks to open the inning against SDSU reliever Brady Stover, which were followed by Cole McDevitt's third hit of the game, a single to left that plated Kozicky with the go-ahead run. Wilson and McDevitt later scored on a passed ball and wild pitch, respectively, after each moved up a base following a sacrifice bunt by Andrew Wilhite.
