Senior Jake Larson and junior Drew Berkland racked up four RBIs, but the Minnesota Golden Gophers fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions 15-10 on Sunday.
Senior Justin Thorsteinson (1-3) started and took the loss on the mound for Minnesota (11-17, ). Sophomore Tyler Hemmesch was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going 1.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out three.
Larson went 2-for-4 with a home run in addition to his four RBIs for the Golden Gophers. Junior Drew Berkland compiled a standout day at the dish as well, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI. Junior Weber Neels also chipped in for Minnesota, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 8-0, the Golden Gophers first put runs on the board in the fifth inning. Minnesota plated two runs when Berkland left the yard with junior Kris Hokenson aboard.
The Nittany Lions expanded their lead to 11-2 before the Golden Gophers offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the seventh. The Minnesota offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Neels and a two-run double from Berkland, which brought the score to 11-6 in favor of the Nittany Lions.
Penn State expanded their lead to 15-6 before the Minnesota offense got back in action, reducing that lead to 15-8 in the eighth. The Golden Gophers added two to their tally on Larson’s two-run homer to .
Minnesota held the Nittany Lions off the board before narrowing the gap further in the ninth. The Golden Gophers added two runs when a single from Larson scored Neels and senior Parker Knoll, bringing the score to 15-10 in favor of Penn State. The Golden Gophers were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
GAME NOTES
» The Golden Gophers got three-hit games from both Berkland and Neels.
» Minnesota’s power output was led by Berkland, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Larson and Berkland drove in four runs for the Golden Gophers.
» Golden Gophers pitchers combined to strike out 13 Penn State hitters.
» Minnesota’s highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed four runs across.
» Berkland led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run and four RBI.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
