MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota put together a three-run bottom of the third inning and held off South Dakota State for a 4-3 victory in nonconference college baseball action Tuesday night at Siebert Field.
The Golden Gophers improved to 12-17 overall. SDSU suffered its sixth loss in a row to fall to 4-22 on the season.
A leadoff home run by Josh Fitzgerald in the bottom of the first inning gave Minnesota the early lead, but the Jackrabbits grabbed a momentary lead with two runs in the top of the third. Keagen Jirschele led off with a single, advanced to second base on a wild pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Nicholas Werk before scoring on a single up the middle by Bryce Ronken. Ronken later scored on an RBI groundout off the bat of Luke Luskey.
Minnesota responded with three runs in the home half of the third, loading the bases against SDSU starter Drew McDowell on a walk and two infield singles. With Tristan Augedahl coming on in relief for the Jackrabbits, the first two Golden Gopher runs scored on wild pitches before Parker Knoll plated the third and final run of the frame with a single to left field.
The Jackrabbits closed to within one by scoring an unearned run in the sixth. Luskey started the inning by reaching on catcher’s interference, then scored on a two-out double by Dagen Schramm to the left-center gap.
A trio of SDSU relievers kept Minnesota off the board for the final six innings. Arlen Peters retired the final seven batters he faced over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. Peters allowed only a walk and struck out three.
Ty Madison also struck out three in 1 1/3 scoreless frames and Jude Sundquist recorded the final two outs by the Jackrabbit pitching staff.
Noah Rooney was credited with the win for Minnesota after giving up an unearned run over 3 2/3 innings. Seth Clausen worked the final three innings for the save.
Minnesota held an 8-6 advantage in hits, with Knoll and Drew Berkland each tallying two hits. SDSU’s six hits were scattered among six different players.
SDSU placed a runner on base in each of the first eight innings and stranded seven.
UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits turn around to host Dakota Wesleyan Wednesday afternoon to kick off a four-game homestand. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Erv Huether Field.
NOTES
- Minnesota leads the all-time series, 41-15, and has won the last four meetings
- The Jackrabbits dropped to 1-6 in one-run games this season
- Carter Sintek has hit safely in 22 of the 25 games he has played this season
- Keagen Jirschele extended his hitting streak to five games
- Ronken and Owen Siegert have each reached base safely in 12 games in a row
- Werk recorded his third outfield assist of the season as he threw out a runner at home in the eighth inning
- The two teams are scheduled to play again on April 16 in Minneapolis