BIG FIRST INNING LIFTS MINNESOTA PAST JACKS

Tuesday, May 16

Minneapolis, Minn. // Siebert Field

6 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Minnesota

Dawson Parry Teaser vs Dakota Wesleyan 2023-02

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

5/16/2023 10:24:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota struck for eight runs in the bottom of the first inning, propelling the Golden Gophers to a 9-6 victory over South Dakota State in nonconference baseball action Tuesday night at Siebert Field.

The Golden Gophers, who swept the two-game season series, improved to 16-33 overall. SDSU dropped to 21-24 on the season.

Minnesota sent 12 men to the plate in the opening inning, starting their rally when Jackrabbit starter Will Kent issued three consecutive walks to load the bases. Ike Mezzenga plated the first two runs with a single to left center and leadoff batter Brett Bateman added a two-run double in his second plate appearance of the frame that knocked Kent out of the game after a third of an inning. Weber Neels, Kris Hokenson and Brady Jurgella also contributed run-scoring singles

The Minnesota onslaught came after SDSU scored a run in the top of the first inning. Reece Anderson continued his hot hitting out of the leadoff spot for the Jackrabbits with a ground-rule double. Anderson later moved to third on an error and came across to score on a sacrifice fly by Dawson Parry.

With Jackrabbit reliever Dane Toman tossing 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, SDSU began to chip away at the deficit by scoring a pair of runs in both the third and fourth innings. Parry connected on a two-run homer for the third-inning runs, with the SDSU runs in the fourth scoring on a bases-loaded walk to Thatcher Kozal and an RBI fielders choice off the bat of Anderson.

SDSU pulled to within 8-5 in the fifth inning when Parry and Nic Nelson opened the frame with back-to-back doubles. Parry ended the night 3-for-4 to lead SDSU's eight-hit effort, with Anderson collecting a pair of hits.

Minnesota reliever Caden Capomaccio came on to record 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to keep the Jackrabbits at bay and pick up the win. Noah DeLuga struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save.

Bateman and Mezzenga each notched three hits and two RBIs to pace Minnesota's 10-hit attack. Mezzenga doubled to lead off the sixth inning and scored the final run of the game.

Freshmen Jack Kruger and Dylan Driessen each pitched two innings and fanned two batters apiece to close out mound duties for the Jackrabbits.

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits move on to face North Dakota State in a three-game series Thursday through Saturday to close out the Summit League regular season. Thursday's series opener is slated for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, North Dakota.

NOTES

Minnesota leads the all-time series, 39-15
In batting leadoff for the last seven games, Anderson has compiled a .419 batting average (13-for-31) with three doubles, a home run, five RBIs and nine runs scored
Anderson and Parry each recorded their 12^th multi-hit games of the season
Parry's home run was his eighth of the season and the team's 80^th round-tripper in 2023
Jackrabbit pitchers issued 11 walks in the game
Jess Bellows has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games after singling and being hit by two pitches on Tuesday
SDSU has scored first in 32 of its 45 games this season, holding a 17-15 record in those games