The Gophers are tied for first place in the Big Ten with a 7-2 record.

But that mark doesn’t mean a lot to head coach John Anderson, whose Gophers have five conference series left on their schedule.

“I hope we’re not watching the standings,” he said. “I’m more worried about us and where we’re at right now. We’ve got to get ourselves in a good place before Friday.”

The Gophers beat Augsburg 4-1 on Tuesday, but Anderson said he got the sense that some of his players are trying too hard.

“Too focused on the results,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to enjoying the game and not worrying so much about results.”

Minnesota has won four games in a row and seven of its past eight. It swept Northwestern on the road in its last Big Ten series.

Freshman relief pitcher Dalton Sawyer said he thinks the Gophers have a legitimate chance to win the conference, and the numbers back that up.

Minnesota is third in the conference in team ERA, and its pitchers lead the league in strikeouts.

“We definitely have the pitching to [win the conference],” Sawyer said. “Anybody at the top probably thinks that.”

Offensively, the Gophers are ranked ninth in batting average. But their timely hitting has improved lately, and they’re winning close games as a result. Five of Minnesota’s Big Ten wins have come by three runs or less.

“We’re staying relaxed,” sophomore utility player Mark Tatera said. “Work your counts, work your game. That’s a big part of why we’re having
success.”

Rec sports dome creates distracting glare

The Student Recreational Sports Dome behind the left-center field fence at Siebert Field creates a distracting glare on sunny days.

Anderson said the glare off the white Teflon dome was giving players trouble during batting practice.

The sun was out during Minnesota’s 1-0 win over Ohio State on April 7, during which the teams combined for four hits.