Minnesota overcomes Schneider homers

Tuesday, March 7

Minneapolis, Minn. [U.S. Bank Stadium]

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

4-5

Minnesota

7-4

South Dakota State

Minnesota

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

3/7/2017 11:27:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS – Anthony Schneider hit a pair of home runs for South Dakota State, but Minnesota put together two big innings for a 7-5 victory Tuesday night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Jackrabbits dropped to 4-5 overall, while Minnesota improved to 7-4 overall.

Minnesota jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as two Golden Gophers scored on a fielder's choice and ensuing errant throw. Matt Stemper plated the final run of the frame – and second unearned run -- with a sacrifice fly.

Schneider led off the top of the second with a home run over the curtain in right-center field and SDSU trimmed the deficit to 3-2 on Matt Johnson's run-scoring single up the middle in the third. Johnson has hit safely in all nine Jackrabbit games this season.

The Golden Gophers countered with a four-run home half of the third during which they knocked out SDSU starter Austin Kost. Micah Coffey drove in Terrin Vavra with a single for the first run and Stemper delivered a two-run double down the left-field line. An RBI infield single by Troy Traxler later in the inning brought home Stemper.

While the Jackrabbit bullpen kept Minnesota at bay, SDSU continued to chip away. Philip Jacobson scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth, while Schneider tallied what would turn out to be the final runs of the game with a two-run blast to right field. Schneider now leads the Jackrabbits with three home runs this season.

Bryce Hanson struck out two over three shutout innings for the Jackrabbits, followed by two shutout frames from freshman Quinn Reimers and one by Ethan Kenkel.

Minnesota stater Nolan Burchill was credited with the victory after allowing three runs over 3 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one. Tim Shannon hurled a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Vavra and Alex Boxwell each collected two of the Golden Gophers' 11 hits. Nick Smith and Schneider posted two hits each for the Jackrabbits, who finished with seven hits.

SDSU closes out its four-game slate of games at U.S. Bank Stadium with a 7 a.m. matchup Wednesday against Minnesota-Crookston.

MINNESOTA 7, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 5
SDSU 011 120 000 5-7-2
MINN 304 000 00X 7-11-1
SDSU: Austin Kost, Bryce Hanson (3), Quinn Reimers (6), Ethan Kenkel (8) and Luke Ringhofer. MINN: Nolan Burchill, Jackson Rose (4), Jeff Fasching (7), Tim Shannon (9) and Matt Stemper.
W-Burchill (1-1). L-Kost (0-2). Save-Shannon (1).
HR: SDSU-Anthony Schneider 2 (3).