MINNEAPOLIS — South Dakota State couldn’t capitalize on some early scoring opportunities while Minnesota put the game out of reach with an eight-run fifth inning as the Golden Gophers prevailed with an 11-1, seven-inning victory Wednesday night at Siebert Field.

Minnesota improved to 15-16 overall. SDSU dropped its third game in a row to fall to 15-19 overall.

The Jackrabbits opened the game with consecutive hits from Reece Anderson (single) and Jordan Sagedahl (double) to put runners at second and third base with nobody out. However, Minnesota starter Tucker Novotny worked out of the jam with a lineout and two strikeouts.

Meanwhile, the Golden Gophers tallied two runs in the home half of the first inning as Brady Counsell led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Fitzgerald. Kris Hokenson plated the other run with a single.

After Minnesota score a run in the second inning on Counsell’s second double of the game, SDSU left the bases loaded in the third inning and moved to 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position after Anderson tripled with one out in the fifth inning and was stranded.

The Golden Gophers sent 13 men to the plate in the bottom of the fifth as they put an 8-spot on the board to put the 10-run rule in effect. Jake Perry accounted for a good portion of the damage with a two-run home run to begin the scoring and added a run-scoring double later in the frame. Counsell contributed his third hit of the game, a two-run single, to pace a Minnesota offense that recorded 10 hits in the contest.

SDSU broke up the shutout bid in its last at-bat in the seventh inning when Cohen Henry reached on a wild pitch after a strikeout, Adam Benes walked and Cael Frost doubled to center field.

Minnesota pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts in the game. Novotny notched six K’s in three innings, followed by seven strikeouts in three innings by Sam Kennedy. Caden Capomaccio tallied three strikeouts in his lone inning of work.

Jackrabbit starter Will Kent allowed three runs on three hits over two innings while striking out one and walking three. Alex Koep pitched two perfect innings of relief with a strikeout before giving way to Brady Hwkins and Jack Kruger.
Anderson posted three of SDSU’s five hits.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State returns home to host Summit League-leading St. Thomas in a three-game weekend series. Friday’s series opener is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch at Erv Huether Field.

NOTES
- Minnesota leads the all-time series, 40-15, and has won the last three meetings.
- SDSU fell to 4-2 in night games this season.
- Anderson recorded his third consecutive three-hit game and fourth multi-hit game in a row.
- Frost has hit safely in seven straight games.
- Dawson Parry was hit by a pitch to reach base safely for the 19th consecutive game.