SDSU falls in extra innings to Gophers

Saturday, March 22

Minneapolis, Minn. (Metrodome)

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Minnesota

3/22/2008 1:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

MINNEAPOLIS ‑ Minnesota pushed a run across in the bottom of the 10^th inning to take a 2-0 series advantage over South Dakota State with a 5-4 victory Saturday afternoon at the Metrodome.

The Golden Gophers evened their record at 8-8, while SDSU dropped to 5-13 overall as its losing streak hit six games.

Minnesota's winning rally began when Nate Hanson led off the inning with a double to left field against Jackrabbit reliever Kirby Morsching. After Derek McCallum was intentionally walked, Jeff DeSmidt singled to right field to score Hanson.

SDSU took an early 2-0 lead, scoring single runs in both the second and third innings. Max Fenske opened the second with a double to right, moved to third on a flyout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Justin Morar.

In the third, Korby Mintken reached on an infield single with one out, moved to second on a Tim Hanigan single and later scored on an error.

Minnesota was held scoreless by SDSU starter Isaac Johnson until the sixth inning, when Hanson doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by DeSmidt.

The Golden Gophers gained the lead in with a three-run seventh inning by taking advantage of two Jackrabbit errors. Eric Decker recorded the only hit of the inning for Minnesota, a base hit to left center that scored pinch-runner Aaron Larson with the first run of the frame.

However, the Jackrabbits battled back to tie the game in the eighth. Tyson Fisher walked and moved to second on a Craig Parry single. An out later, Tony Martin loaded the bases with a base hit to right off reliever Seth Rosin. Nick Adams then followed with a groundout to score Fisher. Matt Zabel then stepped to the plate and delivered a single up the middle to score Parry with the tying run.

Both starters pitched well in the game. Johnson put together his best outing of the season for SDSU, striking out five and walking two in six innings. Minnesota left-hander Kyle Carr notched 10 strikeouts and surrendered two walks in 6 2/3 innings. Cullen Sexton, the fourth pitcher of the game for the Golden Gophers, picked up the victory.

SDSU held an 8-7 advantage in hits, with Martin going 2-for-5 to lead the Jackrabbits.

The two teams will close out their three-game series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m. at the Metrodome.

MINNESOTA 5, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 4 (10 inn.)

SDSU 011 000 020 0 4-8-2

MINN 000 001 300 1 5-7-3

SDSU: Isaac Johnson, Jared Koch (7), Matt Baerlocher (7), Kirby Morsching (7) and Tony Martin. MINN: Kyle Carr, Chauncy Handran (7), Seth Rosin (8), Cullen Sexton (10) and Jeff DeSmidt.

W-Sexton (1-1). L-Morsching (0-2).

HR: none