University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, April 9
2:00 PM
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Fall Short to No. 23 Maryland, 5-4
4/9/2022 5:31:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota dropped game two, 5-4, to No. 23 Maryland on Saturday afternoon at Siebert Field.
For the second straight game, Maryland (25-6, 4-1 Big Ten) scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking their 1-0 lead to 5-0. Minnesota made a valiant comeback attempt, cutting the lead to 5-4. The Gophers had runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings, but they couldn't break through to tie the game.
Gophers (8-20, 0-5 Big Ten) right-hander J.P. Massey (2-4) struck out five in 3.1 innings, but gave up three runs (two earned) and walked four. Maryland's Ryan Ramsey (7-0) tossed 6.0 innings, striking out five.
Freshman Brady Counsell led the Gophers offensively with two hits, including an RBI triple. Otto Grimm and Boston Merila both went 1-for-4 with RBI singles.
The Terps struck first in the third inning, plating an unearned run. With one out and no one on, a fielding error by Minnesota's Drew Stahl allowed UMD's Chris Alleyne to reach base. A single by Nick Lorusso then advanced Alleyne to third. A wild pitch from Massey allowed Alleyne to score the first run of the game.
UMD broke the game open in the top of the fourth. With men on first and second and one out, Terps second baseman Kevin Keister singled to center to plate the first run of the frame. After a walk loaded the bases, Alleyne singled to left center, scoring the runners from second and third. Maryland would score their fourth run of the inning and fifth of the game on a fielding error by Boston Merila.
The Gophers, who were held hitless through the first 3.1 innings, finally broke through in the fourth inning. Drew Stahl walked to start the frame and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Otto Grimm ripped an RBI single into right field to represent the first hit of the day for the 'U' and score the first run.
Minnesota loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fifth with one out, but a popout and a strikeout ended the threat and stranded three to keep the score at 5-1. With two outs in the sixth, the Gophers loaded up the bases once again, this time with a walk and two batters being hit by a pitch. The 'U' scored again after Andrew Wilhite hit a ball that was bobbled by the shortstop, plating run No. 2 of the day. Bateman grounded out to short to end the inning as the home team stranded three once again.
The Gophers kept chipping away, cutting a three-run lead to one in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Jack Kelly walked before Counsell walloped a triple to the right center field gap, scoring Kelly. After Grimm was hit by a pitch, Merila singled to left, driving in Counsell. The inning would end on the next pitch, however, when Chase Stanke grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. Heading into the eighth inning, Minnesota trailed by just one at 5-4.
The Gophers bullpen was sensational for much of the game and they held the Terrapins scoreless for the final five innings, striking out six.
Minnesota went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to end the game and fall, 5-4.
UP NEXT
Minnesota and Maryland will play in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
For the second straight game, Maryland (25-6, 4-1 Big Ten) scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking their 1-0 lead to 5-0. Minnesota made a valiant comeback attempt, cutting the lead to 5-4. The Gophers had runners in scoring position in both the seventh and eighth innings, but they couldn't break through to tie the game.
Gophers (8-20, 0-5 Big Ten) right-hander J.P. Massey (2-4) struck out five in 3.1 innings, but gave up three runs (two earned) and walked four. Maryland's Ryan Ramsey (7-0) tossed 6.0 innings, striking out five.
Freshman Brady Counsell led the Gophers offensively with two hits, including an RBI triple. Otto Grimm and Boston Merila both went 1-for-4 with RBI singles.
The Terps struck first in the third inning, plating an unearned run. With one out and no one on, a fielding error by Minnesota's Drew Stahl allowed UMD's Chris Alleyne to reach base. A single by Nick Lorusso then advanced Alleyne to third. A wild pitch from Massey allowed Alleyne to score the first run of the game.
UMD broke the game open in the top of the fourth. With men on first and second and one out, Terps second baseman Kevin Keister singled to center to plate the first run of the frame. After a walk loaded the bases, Alleyne singled to left center, scoring the runners from second and third. Maryland would score their fourth run of the inning and fifth of the game on a fielding error by Boston Merila.
The Gophers, who were held hitless through the first 3.1 innings, finally broke through in the fourth inning. Drew Stahl walked to start the frame and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Otto Grimm ripped an RBI single into right field to represent the first hit of the day for the 'U' and score the first run.
Minnesota loaded up the bases in the bottom of the fifth with one out, but a popout and a strikeout ended the threat and stranded three to keep the score at 5-1. With two outs in the sixth, the Gophers loaded up the bases once again, this time with a walk and two batters being hit by a pitch. The 'U' scored again after Andrew Wilhite hit a ball that was bobbled by the shortstop, plating run No. 2 of the day. Bateman grounded out to short to end the inning as the home team stranded three once again.
The Gophers kept chipping away, cutting a three-run lead to one in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Jack Kelly walked before Counsell walloped a triple to the right center field gap, scoring Kelly. After Grimm was hit by a pitch, Merila singled to left, driving in Counsell. The inning would end on the next pitch, however, when Chase Stanke grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the threat. Heading into the eighth inning, Minnesota trailed by just one at 5-4.
The Gophers bullpen was sensational for much of the game and they held the Terrapins scoreless for the final five innings, striking out six.
Minnesota went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to end the game and fall, 5-4.
UP NEXT
Minnesota and Maryland will play in the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be televised by the Big Ten Network.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ramsey, R (7-0)
L: Massey, J.P. (2-4)
S: Falco, D (1)
Batting:
RBI: Alleyne, C 2 ; Keister, K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Shliger, L 1 ; Alleyne, C 1 ; Schreffler,T 1 ; Martin, Z 1 ; Keister, K 1
SB: Shliger, L 1 ; Alleyne, C 1
CS: Shliger, L 1
Batting:
3B: Counsell, Brady 1
RBI: Counsell, Brady 1 ; Grimm, Otto 1 ; Merila, Boston 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stahl, Drew 1 ; Kelly, Jack 1 ; Counsell, Brady 1 ; Merila, Boston 1
SB: Wilhite, Andrew 1
CS: Kelly, Jack 1
HBP: Grimm, Otto 1 ; Merila, Boston 1 ; Stanke, Chase 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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RBI
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RBI
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RBI
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Players Mentioned
INF
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