#25 Minnesota is set to take on #18 Ohio State at 12:30 PM at the Metrodome. Minnesota is sending right hander Seth Rosin to the mound while Ohio State's Eric Best will start for the Buckeyes'. The series is tied 1-1 as Minnesota won Friday night and Ohio State won yesterday. Today's game will decide the series winner.
Taylor Vander Aarde, Director of Baseball Operations, will host today's blog. If you have any questions regarding the game or Gopher Baseball, email baseball@umn.edu and your questions will be discussed throughout the day.
Here are today's starting line-ups.
Ohio State - 1) Zach Hurley LF 2) Cory Kovanda 2B 3) Michael Stephens CF 4) Justin Miller 3B 5) Dan Burkhart C 6) Ryan Dew DH 7) Michael Arp RF 8) Matt Streng 1B 9) Tyler Engel SS SP) Eric Best
Minnesota - 1) Matt Nohelty DH 2) AJ Pettersen SS 3) Derek McCallum 2B 4) Mike Kvasnicka RF 5) Kyle Knudson C 6) Nick O'Shea 1B 7) Eric Decker CF 8) Justin Gominsky LF 9) Kyle Geason 3B SP) Seth Rosin
12:30 PM - Seth Rosin delivers the first pitch for a strike.
12:33 PM - The Ohio State softball team is spotted in the stands supporting the Buckeye baseball team. Buckeye softball is in town to play our Gopher team. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 0, Bottom 1.
12:45 PM - Minnesota jumps out to an early lead on a Kvasnicka RBI sacrifice fly. The Gophers are 11 and five when scoring first this season. They have also scored 25 runs in the first inning which is the more than any other inning. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 1, Top 2.
1:00 PM - A vintage Matt Nohelty single to left field pushes across two more Minnesota runs. Nohelty has made a very successful career hitting the ball to the left side of the field. His career is batting average is .375 which is tied for fourth on the career all-time batting average list. Yesterday, Nohelty also tied JT Bruett for second all-time stolen base count with his 77th swipe. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 5, Bottom 2.
1:05 PM - Two hitting streaks have already been extended today. Matt Nohelty now has a hit in 14 straight games and Derek McCallum is at 10. Nohelty has also reached base 41 consecutive games. The last Gopher to reach base in 41 consecutive games was Luke Appert in 2002-03. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 7, Bottom 2.
1:16 PM - Minnesota score seven runs in the second inning. This marks the third time in 2009 the Gophers have scored seven runs in an inning. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 8, Top 3.
1:30 PM - Freshman Kyle Geason continues to be a walk machine. Geason draws his 24th walk of the season. Geason's batting average is only .189 but his on-base percentage is .419. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 8, Bottom 3.
1:35 PM - Derek McCallum drills a ground rule double to left centerfield. McCallum has now an RBI in 10 straight games. McCallum has 30 on the year. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 10, Bottom 3.
1:45 PM - Minnesota is close to making today their highest run output of the season. The Gopher offense put up 16 against Illinois State on March 6. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 12, Top 4.
1:55 PM - Matt Nohelty has his third hit to left field of the day. Nohelty is working on his tenth multi-hit game of the year. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 15, Bottom 4.
2:05 PM - The Gopher's tie their highest run out put of the season as Kyle Knudson plates Derek McCallum with a double. Minnesota has now scored at least four runs in the last three innings. Ohio State 0, Minnesota 16, Top 5.
2:21 PM - Former Gopher greats Jon Becker and Craig Molldrem are spotted in the crowd. Becker played infield from 2001-03 and Molldrem from 2001-04. Ohio State 3, Minnesota 16, Bottom 5.
2:28 PM - Justin Gominsky delivers a special birthday gift to his mother. So far, Gominsky has two hits in four at-bats. Happy birthday Gladys, from the Gopher baseball family. Ohio State 3, Minnesota 16, Top 6.
2:38 PM - Today's attendance: 664
2:45 PM- Freshman first baseman Nick O'Shea makes an incredible diving stop to his right. O'Shea then flips the ball to Tyler Oakes covering first for the third out of the inning. It's stretch time here at the Metrodome. Ohio State 3, Minnesota 16, Bottom 7.
2:47 PM - Big Ten Scoreboard
Northwestern 5 at Michigan State 6 FINAL
Penn State 16 at Michigan 5 FINAL
3:07 PM - Kyle Knudson moves to third base for the bottom of the ninth. There is no record of the last time Knudson manned the hot corner. The infielders are enjoying a good laugh at their catcher standing at third. Ohio State 3, Minnesota 16, Top 9.
3:16 PM - Knudson back hands a hot smash off the bat of Ben Toussant and throws out the runner for the last out of the ninth. The play is a borderline web gem. Ohio State 3, Minnesota 16, FINAL
