Minnesota drops midweek tilt to North Dakota State, 7-4
Published 2:03 pm Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Minnesota Baseball dropped Tuesday night’s midweek contest to the Bison of North Dakota State, 7-4. In a back-and-forth battle, the Gophers lost a game in which they led as late as the eighth inning.
Although the Bison got out to a 1-0 lead in the first, Minnesota answered back in the second with a pair of runs of their own. Jack Kelly drew a walk and later scored on a wild pitch in the inning, while Jordan Kozicky hit his first of two doubles in the game and was plated by an Andrew Wilhite single to make it 2-1.
After falling behind again in the top of the third, the Gophers regained the lead with a two-run frame in the bottom half. Minnesota scratched together a pair of runs on a series of walks and a Ronald Sweeny RBI groundout to take a 4-3 advantage.
The game would get quiet following the conclusion of the third, however, with neither team able to push across any runs in innings four through seven. Minnesota starter Trent Schoeberl ultimately lasted five innings on the hill, ending with three runs allowed on five hits, one walk, two hit batters and three strikeouts.
Unfortunately for the Gophers, Schoeberl would wind up with the no decision on Tuesday despite exiting with a 4-3 lead. North Dakota State roared back for two runs in the eighth before scoring another two in the ninth to defeat the Gophers, 7-4.
Reliever Danny Kapala received the loss against the Bison, throwing two innings with two runs on three hit batters along with three strikeouts. Kapala did not allow a hit despite being saddled with the loss.
Parker Harm earned the win for North Dakota State, firing two scoreless frames of relief with one hit allowed and four strikeouts.
Notable
Kozicky finished three-for-four with a pair of doubles in the game. Tuesday marked the senior’s first three-hit game of the season.
Kelly reached base in four-of-five plate appearances, drawing a trio of walks to go along with a one-for-two effort at the plate.