The Gopher baseball team had one of their best weekends from their starting rotation this season, but didn’t have much to show from it. Starters Sam Ireland and Aidan Maldanado lasted seven innings each while J.P. Massey went six on Saturday.

Gophers take series opener

Penn State got out to the early lead with a triple in the top of the first to get the game started, but Minnesota was quick to answer. Another run in the bottom of the second inning gave Ireland some cushion.

The Nittany Lions tied the game in the top of the fifth before the Gophers exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame. Ireland settled in for his final two innings of the game and grabbed four more strikeouts before being pulled going into the eighth.

Reliever Tom Skoro came in to close the game and in his second inning of work had bases loaded with no outs. Penn State managed to get just one run across in the top of the ninth as Minnesota held on to a 7-3 win in the opener.

Eighth inning collapse ties series

It was a pitcher’s duel for the second game of the series in the first half between Massey and Penn State starter Travis Luensmann. The Nittany Lions broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the sixth inning with a solo shot.

Ronald Sweeny was able to get the Gophers on the board in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI on a groundout to first. Unfortunately, the tie wouldn’t last for long.

Penn State exploded for six hits to score four runs and break open the game in the top of the eighth. Minnesota used three different relievers in the inning as Noah DeLuga was charged with the loss and two of the runs.

The Gophers couldn’t get much going in their final two turns at the plate and the Nittany Lions tied up the series 1-1 after a 5-1 win.

Gophers blow lead with another eighth inning fiasco

Penn State got to Maldanado early with a pair of runs in the top of the first, though one was due to an error with two outs. Kyle Bork hit a three-run home run during a four-run first inning to put Minnesota out in front.

The Nittany Lions and Gophers each grabbed a run in the middle innings as Maldanado completed seven frames before leaving with a 5-3 lead.

Freshman reliever Noah Rooney came in for the eighth and got two quick ground outs to start the inning. Back-to-back walks ended Rooney’s day and Josh Culliver came in to try and pitch around the jam. On a full count, Penn State retook the lead with a three-run bomb.

The Gophers had a threat in the ninth, but couldn’t get one across to tie and Minnesota fell 6-5 and lost the series.

Up next

The Gophers have a pair of mid-week games against South Dakota State on Tuesday and St. Thomas on Wednesday. Minnesota then travels to Michigan to face the Spartans in a three-game weekend series.