The Gophers offense led the team to a 2-1 record over the weekend in its second series of the season.
Minnesota totaled more than 10 hits in each game against Campbell University. The Gophers have recorded 10 or more hits in each game this season.
The team dropped the first game to the Camels 11-7 on Friday but won 3-1 on Saturday and 7-5 on Sunday in Buies Creek, N.C.
Junior pitcher Matt Fiedler took the mound for his second start of the season on Friday and recorded a career-high eight strikeouts, but he allowed five earned runs on nine hits and was credited with the loss.
Gophers head coach John Anderson said the team suffered defensively Friday. Minnesota surrendered three runs in the first inning to the Camels to fall behind early.
“We didn’t execute the fundamentals of the game. We gave them five outs in the first inning. We didn’t make a couple plays on defense,” Anderson said.
Minnesota’s pitching staff bounced back on Saturday as senior pitcher Dalton Sawyer recorded his second victory of the season. Sawyer pitched six-and-one-third innings, giving up just one run on seven hits while striking out five.
“Me and my catcher, [redshirt junior] Matt Stemper, were really on the same page,” Sawyer said. “We were able to throw a lot of off-speed pitches early in counts and get them to swing early and often.”
The Gophers also had 11 hits from six batters at the plate. Freshman shortstop Terrin Vavra led Minnesota with four hits and scored one of the team’s three runs.
The Gophers collected 14 hits in the rubber match, taking a 4-3 lead after the fourth inning. Minnesota added three runs in the top of the eighth to help the team stay ahead of the Camels, who scored two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Minnesota outhit the Camels 40-29 in the series overall, continuing a strong offensive start for the team. The Gophers have outscored opponents 47-31 so far this season.
“We’ve just got a lot of confidence, and so we’re swinging well,” senior second baseman Connor Schaefbauer said.
