Gophers struggling vs. Michigan

down 3-1 in the seventh.

Gophers bats are really bad tonight, Michigan throwing a freshman lefty who is mixing it up well but we are just taking some really bad, impatient at bats and popping everything up. Expect it from the many young guys in the lineup but Kvansnicka and Knudson are pretty bad as well. We've also got picked off in a key situation. You have to give there pitcher credit but he really isn't doing anything special, about 85 on his fastball, with a decent curve and change, but we are really helping him out and didn't look like we we're mentally ready to hit tonight. Geason also with an extremely stupid baserunning mistake that almost cost the Gophers a run.

In the seventh inning, Oakes kind of fell apart and I think they left him in too long. Gave up two runs but really struggled and hit a guy trying to sac bunt, walked two more, threw a terrible two strike curve to a hitter who wasn't close to hitting an inside fastball and allowed a run on a wild pitch. They left him in to get out of it, which he did only allowing two runs. Overall a very nice outing for the freshman.

Not looking good for the tournament if we can't get it together here in the next 2 1/2 innings. Michigan is getting alot of innings from there starter and will have alot of rested arms for the championship game(s). We are going to have to burn alot of innings against Iowa and then find another starter for Michigan game. Not sure if Rosin could come back for a game sunday after throwing 120+ pitches Thursday.


Gophers put together a little rally in the seventh with a Geason single, Abrahamson walk and then a two out Petterson single, but Hankenmeyer comes in to pinch hit and sits there and watches five pitches and leaves the tying run on second. SWING THE BAT, what are you waiting for.

Gophers tie game

Gopher miss chances to take game;

They put together a big rally in the 8th and tie the game with a bases loaded walk but Petterson flies out to end the inning and leave three on. In the 9th, Soule has first and third with one out but Maytas comes in and gets the job done and then the bottom of the 9th, first two batters reach, but they decided not to bunt and Knudson hits into a double play, then he walks the next two guys before Geason grounds out to once again leave the bases loaded.

On to the 10th inning with both teams having there closers go 2+ innings. Whoever loses will now be in big trouble having to really burn there bullpen's.

On a side note, the home plate ump's strikezone has been just awful, and it's been really bad for all pitchers on both teams, really inconsistant.

10th inning, Michigan runner on second with one out but Maytas gets back to back strikeouts, both looking.

In the bottom, Shultz leadoff walk(ball 3 and 4 we're strikes, this Ump is clueless). Larson comes up but fails to get the bunt down and then of course grounds into a double play and basically end the inning. Gophers really shooting themselves in the foot all game.

Matyas has been huge.

Agreed - Michigan's pitcher is not getting the knees called at all... (which is nice!)

Okay, do we bunt here with Knudson?

Gophers win a trip to the title game.

good redemption by Knudson after the double play last time up - huge!

How about the freshman getting the leadoff base hit? Sweet!

Nice Gophers!!!! Win 4-3 in 11 innings

Gophers WIN 4-3 in 11!!!!!!!

Maytas pitches 2 2/3 for the win, zero hits, six K's.

Hankenmeyer comes up big with a leadoff single, then Kvansnicka walks and Knudson gets the game winning single up the middle.

Not sure if we really deserved to win this game but we'll take it, Gophers really sitting in great position no matter who wins tomarrows game. Issakson has been very good recently and i don't know if either Iowa or Mich has much left in quality arms who could throw enough innings to hold down MN.

A nice win, regardless of how it came about.

I'll admit I was more than a little worried when it got to 3-0 in the seventh, but the guys kept getting on base consistently after that and found a way to get it done. Oakes was very very good and Matyas was pretty much lights out after relieving Soule in the ninth.

Offensively, the guys seem to find a way. It's not always very pretty (like tonight), but they just keep grinding it out and somehow get the job done.

Now, let's hope the guys can go out there tomorrow, get that next win, take home another Big Ten trophy, and move on to the NCAAs!!!

Heckuva game by both teams. Let's hope we can close this tourney out.

That Michigan pitcher is going to be a headache in years to come...

John Anderson: Great coach or the greatest coach?