The Gophers baseball team ran into stiff competition in the first leg of its Sacramento road trip.

Minnesota (5-7) dropped two of three to a Gonzaga team that strung together hits and made the basepaths look like a carousel Saturday and Sunday.

The Gophers had a big opening day to the road trip Friday behind pitcher TJ Oakes (1-2 on the season). The sophomore threw 99 pitches in six and two-thirds innings of one-run ball in the 8-1 victory.

Right fielder Justin Gominsky went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in before being lifted for a pinch hitter late in the game.

Third baseman Kyle Geason went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Minnesota chased Gonzaga’s Ryan Carpenter after six earned runs in just four innings of work, and made him labor for 93 pitches.

The rest of the weekend wasn’t as kind to a team that’s supposed to be centered around pitching and defense.  

Saturday the club lost 10-3 after starter Phil Isaksson (1-1) gave up five earned runs in five innings of work. Minnesota stranded 12 runners and wasted a 3-for-4 performance by leadoff hitter AJ Petterson.

Sunday’s 15-6 thrashing saw the Gophers commit three errors in the field and struggle to string hits together at the plate. Starter Austin Lubinsky (1-3) only lasted two and one-thirds innings before giving way to the bullpen.

Minnesota actually jumped out to a 4-2 first inning lead, but watched it slip away after Gonzaga’s five-run third inning and seven-run fourth.

Up next the Gophers will take on Sacramento State on Tuesday and Wednesday before starting another three-game series Friday.