Playing without three of its top four starting pitchers, the Minnesota baseball team jumped out to a 9-0 lead and held on for a 15-9 win over Jacksonville in the consolation game of the Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala., on Sunday.
The Gophers (4-2) scored seven runs in the bottom of the third to break a scoreless tie. After Jeremy Negen reached on a throwing error, five consecutive singles and a bases loaded double scored three to make it 7-0.
Minnesota made it 9-0 on a solo homerun by senior Aron Amundson, and freshman Jon Nuss scored on another error.
Three errors by the Gophers and a grand slam by Josh Hurrell gave Jacksonville eight runs in the top of the sixth.
But in the bottom of the sixth, Minnesota extended its lead when sophomore Rick Brosseau — who extended his career-long hitting streak to 11 games — led off with a homerun. Amundson had an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch. The Gophers added a run in both the seventh and eighth innings for the 15-9 win.
“I don’t expect to hit any homeruns,” Brosseau said. “I pretty much knew it was gone, but the right fielder ran full speed into the wall and was down for awhile.”
Senior Robb Quinlan added four hits for the Gophers.
Amundson, who missed Saturday’s game against South Alabama due to illness, had two hits and two RBIs. He also got the win by pitching three-plus innings, giving up one run and four hits. Starter Chad Clarey pitched three strong innings, allowing four hits and striking out four.
“I slept for 20 hours on Saturday,” Amundson said. “Our pitching coach told me that guys often play better when they’re sick. Their concentration is better, and I had good concentration today.”
ù Alabama-Birmingham knocked off Minnesota on Saturday 13-6, scoring in each of the first five innings.
The Gophers were up 6-4 after the top of the fourth, but the Blazers scored five runs in the next two innings to take control.
Trailing 9-6, Minnesota loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth inning, but pinch-hitter Adam Horton popped out to third and Jason Kennedy hit into a double play.
Sophomore Jason Shupe struggled in his first collegiate start, giving up six runs and six hits in three innings.
The Blazers’ Joe McRae entered the game in relief in the third inning and shut down the Gophers the rest of the way. In 6 2/3 innings, he gave up six hits, one run and struck out four to earn the win.
Mike Arlt went 2-5 and drove in two runs, and Nuss had three hits in the loss.
ù The Gophers scored 10 runs in the last two innings on Friday to beat South Alabama 12-5 in the opening game of the tournament.
Minnesota held a 2-0 lead after five innings, thanks to the pitching of Brad Pautz, an RBI double by Matt Scanlon and an RBI sacrafice fly by Nuss.
But Gophers reliever Frank Wagner gave up two runs in the sixth on four walks, and South Alabama took the lead with a run in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs in the eighth, the Gopher rally started with a double, wild pitch, two singles, another wild pitch, a throwing error and a walk. Quinlan then hit a three-run homerun, and Scanlon followed with a solo shot.
South Alabama’s Josh Jackson hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, but a two-run double by John Holthaus highlighted a three-run ninth.
Minnesota will travel to Auburn on Wednesday to face the No. 3 Tigers.
“We’re going to have to score some runs and get good middle relief pitching,” Brosseau said.
Women’s softball
The 22nd-ranked women’s softball team won three games on Sunday and six over the weekend to win a share of the Triangle Classic championship in Raleigh, N.C.
Minnesota defeated Ball State 3-2 in the first game on Sunday, giving co-coach Lisa Bernstein her 250th career coaching victory.
The Gophers then beat Maryland 6-5 in eight innings and Illinois-Chicago 1-0 to earn the co-champioship.
Minnesota shared the championship because the tournament was unable to be completed.
The Gophers have now won nine consecutive games, and are 12-2 overall.
Senior pitcher Steph Klaviter was named the tournament’s MVP, going 3-0 in the tournament, including shutouts against Virginia and Illinois-Chicago. Klaviter now has 66 career victories, one shy of Brenda Bixby‘s record set from 1988-1992.
Senior shortstop Shannon Beeler was also named to the all-tournament team.
Men’s golf
Junior Martin LeMesurier and senior Adam Dooley each shot a one-under 71 to lead the Gophers to a 289 team score and fourth place after the first day of the San Juan Shootout at Rio Mar Country Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Minnesota is tied for fourth with East Tennessee State and Texas.
Senior Bill Thompson shot a one-over 73, and defending NCAA champion James McLean shot a 74.
The Gophers will play round two this morning, and conclude with 18 holes on Tuesday.
Women’s gymnastics
The No. 8 Gophers women’s gymanstics team couldn’t overcome a season low on the balance beam to finish third in a meet against No. 12 West Virginia and North Carolina State in Morgantown, W.V.
Senior Cathy Keyser placed fifth on the beam with a 9.775, the highest among Gophers. Minnesota had to use an 8.65 score on the beam, and recorded just 46.825 as a team.
Junior Judy Cavazos and freshman Catie Christiensen led the Gophers on the floor exercise, who finished with 49.075 as a team. Christiensen tied for second with a 9.875 and freshman Megan Beuckens had a career-high 9.8.
Men’s gymnastics
The men’s team lost to No. 9 Nebraska 228.05-213.975 in a dual meet in Lincoln, Neb.
The only Gophers to garner honors were senior Jason Krob, who finished scored a 9.625 on the pommel horse to finish third, and junior Ryan Winterbourne scored a season-high for Minnesota on the still rings with a 9.2.
Minnesota travels to Illinois this weekend.
Men’s tennis
The 23rd-ranked men’s tennis team won two of three doubles matches to beat 24th-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.
Jon Svensson, Martin Michalowski and Thomas Haug all won their singles matches.
Adam Selkirk and Svensson beat Matt Horsley and Trent Miller 8-4 at No. 2 doubles. But the clinching match was an 8-2 win for freshman Ryan Davies and Huang over Matt Daly and Casey Smith.
