Junior Easton Richter put together a stellar performance at the plate Tuesday, hitting two home runs to help lead the Minnesota Golden Gophers over the Milwaukee Panthers 16-4.
Junior Noah Rooney (1-1) got the win out of the bullpen for Minnesota (5-5). The left-hander went 2.1 shutout innings, giving up three hits, no walks and striking out four. Senior Seth Clausen also pitched well, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out three.
Richter went 3-for-3 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with a double while driving in five runs. Junior Drew Berkland added to Richter’s awesome power-hitting performance by going 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI along with two walks. Senior Parker Knoll also chipped in for the Golden Gophers, going 1-for-4 with a triple, a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 3-0, the Golden Gophers first put runs on the board in the second inning. Minnesota put up two runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI triple off the bat of junior Weber Neels.
The Golden Gophers kept the deficit at 3-2 before taking the lead in the third. Minnesota scored twice on Richter’s two-run homer, which brought the score to 4-3 in favor of the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota kept Milwaukee without a run before building their lead to 6-3 in the fifth inning. The Golden Gophers got run-scoring doubles from sophomore Brayden Hellum and Richter to pick up a couple of runs.
Minnesota held the Panthers without a run before their offense got in gear the next inning. The Golden Gophers produced a two-run frame, punctuated with an RBI triple from Knoll, bringing the score to 8-3 in favor of Minnesota.
Milwaukee got within 8-4 until the Golden Gophers scored again in the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 16-4. Minnesota hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing eight runs across. The score remained 16-4 for the rest of the game, as the Golden Gophers coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Golden Gophers got two home runs off the bat of Richter.
» Richter compiled three base hits in the game for Minnesota.
» Minnesota got a great power hitting day from Richter, who reached safely with three extra base hits.
» Richter drove in five runs for Minnesota.
» Minnesota’s highest scoring inning was the seventh, when it pushed eight runs across.
» Minnesota grabbed the lead at 4-3 in the bottom half of the third and never lost that advantage.
» Minnesota hitters hit three home runs in the ballgame.
» The Golden Gophers out-hit the Panthers at a 12-8 clip.
» Minnesota went 6-for-15 (.400) with runners in scoring position.
» Minnesota pitchers faced 39 Milwaukee hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and four fly balls while striking out nine.
» The Golden Gophers drew seven walks from Milwaukee pitching.
» Richter led the Golden Gophers at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and five RBI.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
