Minnesota used an impressive string of starts in all three games to pace itself to a weekend sweep. Early-inning run support gave Minnesota the ability to cruise past the Leathernecks in all three games.
Game One
Junior starter Sam Ireland got back on track and earned his third win of the season improving to 3-0 after six innings allowing just one earned run. Ireland got early run support as Minnesota got out to a 9-1 lead after five innings.
A pair of two-run home runs from infielders Drew Stahl and Ronald Sweeny helped pace the Gopher offense. Outfielder Otto Grimm led the offense with three hits to get a hot start to the series that he would continue to ride.
Ireland had some control problems on the mound, walking six batters while striking five out, but he allowed just one runner to score. After a three-run first inning, Minnesota didn’t look back and routed the Leathernecks 11-4 to open up the series.
Game Two
After Western Illinois took a 2-0 lead, Minnesota answered back and put together back-to-back crooked number innings. Senior starter J.P. Massey was spectacular in his outing, almost pitching seven innings while allowing zero runs.
The Leathernecks got a run in the second and third inning, but both were because of fielding errors from Massey. He allowed just five hits and struck out six en route to his second win of the season in 6.2 innings.
The Gophers grabbed their first lead of the game with a two-out, bases-loaded double that cleared the bases. With a 4-2 lead, Minnesota added three more runs in the fifth as they won Game 2, 7-2.
Game Three
Another early offensive surge from Minnesota led way to a 6-1 win to earn its first sweep of the season. Another impressive start from the Gophers rotation, this time from redshirt junior Aidan Maldonado, helped Minnesota cruise on Sunday.
Maldonado struck out a career-high nine batters in five innings to earn his first win of the season while allowing no runs. The bullpen came in and did its job, allowing just one run in a combined four innings.
Catcher Chase Stanke got back on his home run surge and hit his team-leading eighth of the season. Stanke’s first-inning home run got the offense going, and combined with dominant pitching across the board, Minnesota had no problem picking up the sweep.
Up next
Minnesota has its first conference series of the season as the Gophers travel to face Rutgers in a three-game series starting Friday.
