2015 Gopher Baseball

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Gophers beat Kansas State 5-0 tonight. Toby Anderson got the win and was perfect for 5.1 and had 6.1 no hit innings before finally giving one up he ended up throwing 7 innings giving up 1 hit 1 hit batter and striking out 3. The Gophers had 7 hits for the game including homeruns from Matt Halloran and Jordan Smith. The two teams will finish off the midweek series tomorrow afternoon.
 


UC-Irvine takes game 1 3-2. Gophers scored 2 runs in the 1st and that held up until the 8th inning when Irvine would get 2 to tie it and they would add 1 in the top of the 9th to go on to win 3-2. Irvine scored 3 runs on 14 hits and didn't commit an error while the Gophers scored 2 runs on 5 hits and committed error.
 

The Anteaters win game 2 6-5 in 12 innings. Things looked good for the Gophers going to the 9th up 4-2 and having held Irvine off the scoreboard since the 1st inning but a single, double, and a walk would make the score 4-3 with nobody out. Irvine would lay down a sac bunt but the Gophers threw it away so it was 4-4 with runners on 2nd and 3rd and nobody out and Irvine would add a sac fly to take a 5-4 lead to the bottom of the 9th. The Gophers would get a leadoff single from Matt Stemper and Connor Schaefbauer would follow with a bunt single that also had a throwing error giving the Gophers runners at the corners and nobody out. A sac fly from Matt Fiedler would tie it and after a walk to Michael Handel Irvine would escape with a flyout and strikeout. In the 12 Irvine got a leadoff infield single but on replay it definitely looked like the runner was tagged before he touched the bag. Irvine would sacrifice bunt the runner to 2nd and after a strikeout for the 2nd out they would get a double to drive in the eventual game winning run. 6 runs 12 hits and 3 errors for the Anteaters and 5 runs 14 hits and 1 error for the Golden Gophers.
 

Irvine completes the sweep with a 6-2 win today. A real frustrating series where the Gophers had chances in every game but really never took advantage of them. Tim Shannon took the loss going just 4 innings giving up 6 runs but only 2 were earned. Gophers did get a nice relief outing from Brian Glowicki who went 4 innings giving up just 1 hit and striking out 4. The Gophers 2 runs came on a 2 run homerun from Matt Stemper. Irvine had 6 runs on 6 hits and 0 errors while the Gophers had 2 runs on 11 hits and 2 errors the big difference though was that Irvine only left 2 runners on base while the Gophers left 12 on base.
 




Updated B1G Tournament Bracket (through May 7)

Gophers fall out of top 8 after last weekend's action. Probably need to go 4-2 in final two weekends to make Target Field. Both remaining opponents are tough, @ Iowa then home vs. Michigan State.

Wednesday, May 20 @ Target Field (1st round)
Bracket 1
9 a.m. -- #3 Ohio State (12-6) vs. #6 Michigan (12-9)
1 p.m. -- #2 Iowa (15-3) vs. #7 Indiana (9-10)

Bracket 2
5 p.m. -- #1 Illinois (16-1) vs. #8 Nebraska (8-10)
9 p.m. -- #4 Michigan State (11-7) vs. #5 Maryland (11-7)

Outside Looking In
#9 GOPHERS (7-11)
#10 Penn State (5-12)
#11 Northwestern (5-13)
#12 Rutgers (5-13)
#13 Purdue (2-16)

May 8-10 Series (except where noted)
#12 Rutgers @ #1 Illinois
#9 GOPHERS @ #2 Iowa
#5 Maryland @ #3 Ohio State
#10 Penn State @ #4 Michigan State
#11 Northwestern @ #6 Michigan
#13 Purdue @ #8 Nebraska (May 9-11)

B1G Teams/RPI With NCAA At-Large Aspirations
#8 Illinois (10-3 vs. RPI top 50)
#19 Ohio State (6-7 vs. RPI top 50)
#23 Iowa (6-3 vs. RPI top 50)
#27 Nebraska (2-11 vs. RPI top 50)
#40 Michigan State (5-9 vs. RPI top 50)
#49 Maryland (9-5 vs. RPI top 50)
#51 Indiana (11-8 vs. RPI top 50)
 

Week of May 4: RPI Field of 64

Current "RPI" field would include 5 B1G teams: #8 Illinois; #19 Ohio State; #23 Iowa; #27 Nebraska; and #40 Michigan State. #49 Maryland and #51 Indiana are right there among the first 4 out.

Odds are 5-6 of these 7 will end up getting bids. The B1G Tournament likely will sort out who gets the other 2-3 bids after the 3 locks (Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa). I think Nebraska and Michigan State are the teams in most peril.

NCAA Tournament by RPI (through May 3)
#1 *Dallas Baptist
#2 *Texas A&M
#3 *Miami-Florida
#4 UCLA (Pac 12)
#5 TCU (Big XII)
#6 *LSU
#7 *Florida State
#8 Illinois (B1G)
#9 *Florida
#10 Missouri State (Missouri Valley)
#11 *FAU
#12 Vanderbilt (SEC)
#13 *Oklahoma State
#14 *Auburn
#15 UCSB (Big West)
#16 Louisville (ACC)
#17 *Bradley
#18 *USC
#19 *Ohio State
#20 Radford (Big South)
#21 Houston (American)
#22 *Coastal Carolina
#23 *Iowa
#24 *North Carolina
#25 College of Charleston (Colonial)
#26 *Georgia Tech
#27 *Nebraska
#28 *Arizona State
#29 *USF
#30 *NC-Wilmington
#31 Southeastern Louisiana (Southland)
#32 *Cal State-Fullerton
#33 *Rice
#34 *Kentucky
#35 *Oregon State
#36 *Virginia
#37 *Arkansas (11-12 vs. the projected field)
#38 *Ole Miss (10-10 vs. the projected field)
#39 *Tulane (8-10 vs. the projected field)
#40 *Michigan State (5-10 vs. the projected field)
#41 Nevada (Mountain West)
#42 Oral Roberts (Summit)

LAST 4 AT-LARGES IN
#43 *UC-Irvine (5-6 vs. the projected field)
#44 *East Carolina (7-10 vs. the projected field)
#45 *Cal (6-4 vs. the projected field)
#46 *Connecticut (6-10 vs. the projected field)

#50 North Florida (Atlantic Sun)
#61 Middle Tennessee (Conference USA)
#65 Columbia (Ivy)
#66 Saint John’s (Big East)
#74 Wright State (Horizon)
#80 San Diego (WCC)
#86 South Alabama (Sun Belt)
#92 Stony Brook (America East)
#94 Saint Louis (Atlantic 10)
#103 Central Michigan (MAC)
#105 Rider (Metro Atlantic)
#124 Southeast Missouri State (Ohio Valley)
#128 Alabama State (SWAC)
#130 Mercer (Southern)
#150 Grand Canyon (WAC)
#191 Wagner (Northeast)
#216 Navy (Patriot)
#257 Norfolk State (MEAC)

FIRST 4 AT-LARGES OUT
#47 Liberty (3-8 vs. the projected field)
#48 Notre Dame (6-9 vs. the projected field)
#49 Maryland (9-5 vs. the projected field)
#51 Indiana (7-8 vs. the projected field)
 




A disappointing season gets worse with a really bad 5-4 10 inning loss to NDSU. Gophers didn't play well at all and had plenty of chances but never could come through. Even had a 1st and 3rd chance with nobody out in the top of the 8th with the score tied at 4 but the next 3 batters all struck out. Gophers head to Iowa this weekend after tonights performance I would be very surprised if we win a game at Iowa and could very well lose the next 6 to end the disappointing and underachieving season.
 


Hate to say it, but most of the other Big Ten programs appear to be getting better (see 7 teams legitimately in the hunt for NCAA bids) while the Gophers appear stuck in neutral. Hope Gophers at least sneak into the Big Ten tourney so there's a chance for redemption, granted as a huge longshot given the talent on the other squads.
 



beavergopher said:
We need to recruit much better.
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This is the biggest thing to me although I do think there are a number of guys who are underachieving this year especially a couple seniors and really the team as a whole has underachieved. I can understand losing the few guys to SEC schools the past few years but we have been losing too many solid in-state players to Nebraska, lost a solid pitcher to Oklahoma, a shortstop to Kansas, and even a couple very good ones to Iowa JUCOs the past couple years although I'm not sure if they chose that or had to because of grades. For the incoming class we at least kept the top ranked in-state player home although he did initially commit to Illinois. Nebraska did still come in and get a solid pitcher and very good shortstop for this years class and already beat us out for a Eden Prairie 1B/3B 2016 kid. This years team does have a little more power but the team average isn't great around .260 and the pitching and defense has seemed much worse than in years past with many more walks and always seeming to make a mistake late in close games. My biggest concern going forward and looking toward next season is will the pitching improve? I'm hoping so but would be a lot more optimistic if they could bring in a JUCO guy that could step into the weekend rotation like they did with Alec Crawford a few years ago. The problem is I'm not sure they have any more room on the roster unless someone gets drafted or transfers or something.
 

Updated "RPI" Field of 64

Again, this isn't a projection, but a look at what the bracket would look like using RPI only. Hugely significant weekend for B1G bubble teams Indiana (host Long Beach State), Maryland (@ Ohio State), Michigan State (host Penn State), and Nebraska (host Purdue).

RPI Field of 64 (through May 6)
Automatic Bids (31)
#4 UCLA (Pac 12)
#7 TCU (Big XII)
#10 Missouri State (Missouri Valley)
#11 Illinois (B1G)
#12 Louisville (ACC)
#14 Vanderbilt (SEC)
#18 Houston (American)
#20 Radford (Big South)
#28 College of Charleston (Colonial)
#35 Cal State Fullerton (Big West)
#39 Oral Roberts (Summit)
#42 Southeastern Louisiana (Southland)
#46 Nevada (Mountain West)
#49 North Florida (Atlantic Sun)
#60 Middle Tennessee (Conference USA)
#65 Columbia (Ivy)
#67 Saint John’s (Big East)
#72 Wright State (Horizon)
#82 Stony Brook (America East)
#85 San Diego (WCC)
#88 South Alabama (Sun Belt)
#100 Rider (MAAC)
#108 Central Michigan (MAC)
#113 Southeast Missouri State (OVC)
#126 Bakersfield (WAC)
#129 Mercer (Southern)
#142 Alabama State (SWAC)
#176 Fordham (Atlantic 10)
#190 Wagner (Northeast)
#214 Navy (Patriot)
#253 Norfolk State (MEAC)

At-Larges (33)
#1 Dallas Baptist
#2 Texas A&M
#3 Miami-Florida
#5 LSU
#6 Florida State
#8 FAU
#9 Florida
#13 Oklahoma State
#15 Auburn
#16 Bradley
#17 North Carolina
#19 Georgia Tech
#21 Ohio State
#22 UCSB
#23 USC
#24 Coastal Carolina
#25 Iowa
#26 Arizona State
#27 Nebraska
#29 USF
#30 NC-Wilmington
#31 Virginia
#32 Rice
#33 Oregon State
#34 UC Irvine

Last 8 In
#36 Ole Miss – 8-9 vs. RPI top 50
#37 Arkansas – 9-10 vs. RPI top 50
#38 Kentucky – 7-14 vs. RPI top 50
#40 Michigan State – 7-10 vs. RPI top 50
#41 Tulane – 8-10 vs. RPI top 50
#43 Cal – 6-4 vs. RPI top 50
#44 Liberty – 3-6 vs. RPI top 50
#45 East Carolina – 7-11 vs. RPI top 50

First 8 Out
#47 Connecticut – 6-10 vs. RPI top 50
#48 Notre Dame – 4-10 vs. RPI top 50
#50 Indiana – 8-8 vs. RPI top 50
#51 Maryland – 9-8 vs. RPI top 50
#52 NC State – 7-12 vs. RPI top 50
#53 Duke – 7-11 vs. RPI top 50
#54 UCF – 10-17 vs. RPI top 50
#55 Louisiana – 2-2 vs. RPI top 50
 

Gophers drop game 1 to Iowa 7-3. Iowa got 3 in the 3rd to take the lead the Gophers answered with 2 in the 5th and 1 in the 6th but had the bases loaded and nobody out in the 6th. Iowa responded with 3 in the bottom of the 6th and added a run in the 7th for the 7-3 win. 7 runs on 7 hits and 1 error for Iowa 3 runs on 8 hits and 2 errors for the Gophers.
 

The Gophers had a chance to build a solid program when they had the Dome as an advantage but failed to use it. They could have used it to recruit more southern kids into the program pointing out that games at home would always be played and that practices early would be indoors. Also they could have gotten the better cold and cool weather teams to come in for games. Nebraska, Arkansas, Oregon St, and others would be willing to travel knowing that the games would be played. With the exception of the Dairy Queen tournament rarely did a team with a pulse show up on the Gopher OOC schedule at home. Why didn't Anderson schedule a week long tourney during spring break to draw teams to the Dome. Even some of the southern teams would have probably come if the quality of competition was good enough. This was the time that a solid program could have been built on an advantage only the Gophers had. Now that advantage is gone and the other programs have stepped up their efforts leaving the Gophers behind.
 

Iowa takes game 2 10-2. Freshman Fred Manke got the start for the Gophers and struggled going 1+ inning giving up 6 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. 10 runs 10 hits and 2 errors for Iowa, 2 runs 8 hits and 1 error for the Gophers. Series finale is at 1:00 tomorrow and on BTN.
 

We officially suck at baseball. Does Anderson have the drive to get the program back to where it used to be? He really got the shaft from the administration as they allowed Siebert to rot away, but that excuse is now in the rear view mirror. They need better recruits, but that will take a lot of energy.
The health issues of our pitching coach has not helped things. The program is a sad shell of what it used to be.
 

Iowa sweeps with a 7-1 win today. Gophers got another short start this time from Dalton Sawyer who went just 3.1 innings giving up 5 runs on 3 hits while walking 5 and 3 of those walks would score. Gophers left 9 more runners on base today after leaving a bunch yesterday. 7 runs 7 hits and 0 errors for Iowa, 1 run on 10 hits and 1 error for the Gophers. Gophers need a sweep of Michigan State and Ohio State to sweep Indiana in order to sneak into the conference tournament.
 

Goldy Gopher said:
Gophers need a sweep of Michigan State and Ohio State to sweep Indiana in order to sneak into the conference tournament.
Click to expand...

One other scenario the Gophers make the B1G tourney, though also unlikely:

Gophers get in with a sweep of MSU and Nebraska loses its 4 remaining B1G games vs. Purdue (today) and @ Illinois later this week.
 

SelectionSunday said:
One other scenario the Gophers make the B1G tourney, though also unlikely:

Gophers get in with a sweep of MSU and Nebraska loses its 4 remaining B1G games vs. Purdue (today) and @ Illinois later this week.
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You're right I think I knew that one I just couldn't see Purdue getting a win over Nebraska although I see they did get one yesterday so maybe there is a chance. Either scenario is not very likely to happen just with the way the Gophers have been playing it is hard to see them getting a sweep of a solid Spartan team.
 

Updated B1G Tournament Bracket (through May 11)

Nebraska loses to Purdue this afternoon, increasing the Gophers' slim chances of making the B1G tourney. Gophers still mathematically alive but must sweep Michigan State to have any chance.

Wednesday, May 20 @ Target Field (1st round)
Bracket 1
9 a.m. -- #3 Maryland (13-8) vs. #6 Michigan (14-10)
1 p.m. -- #2 Iowa (18-3) vs. #7 Indiana (9-10)

Bracket 2
5 p.m. -- #1 Illinois (19-1) vs. #8 Nebraska (9-12)
9 p.m. -- #4 Ohio State (13-8) vs. #5 Michigan State (13-8)

Mathematically Alive
#9 GOPHERS (7-14) -- Must sweep MSU + Indiana or Nebraska must get swept.
#10 Penn State (6-14) -- Must sweep Purdue + Nebraska must get swept, + Gophers must lose once.

May 14-16 Series
Nebraska @ Illinois
Iowa @ Rutgers
Maryland @ Northwestern
Ohio State @ Indiana
Michigan State @ #9 GOPHERS
Penn State @ Purdue
Oklahoma State @ Michigan

B1G Teams with NCAA Hopes
Locks (3)
#11 Illinois (10-3 vs. RPI top 50)
#21 Iowa (6-3 vs. RPI top 50)
#38 Maryland (11-6 vs. RPI top 50)

In Good Shape (1)
#24 Ohio State (7-9 vs. RPI top 50) -- Simply avoid getting swept by Hoosiers, and that should make them a lock.

Hangin' Around the Bubble (2)
#47 Michigan State (5-8 vs. RPI top 50) -- Winners of 12 of last 15, and has won 6 straight series.
#51 Indiana (10-8 vs. RPI top 50) -- Win 2 of 3 vs. Buckeyes in Bloomington, and I like Hoosiers' chances.

Long Shots (2)
#34 Nebraska (2-11 vs. RPI top 50) -- Can still salvage NCAA bid with a series win @ en fuego Illinois + BTT run.
#83 Michigan (4-7 vs. RPI top 50) -- RPI could improve greatly this week with a sweep of #15 Oklahoma State
 

Embarrassing season for Gopher baseball. Not making top 8 when you're hosting the B10 tourney is a huge disappointment. Another year like this one and the admin seriously has to consider asking Anderson to step down and possibly take another position in the athletic dept.
 

Updated "RPI" Field of 64 (through May 12)/Miscellaneous B1G Stuff

Automatic Bids/Conference Leader (31)
#2 UCLA (Pac 12)
#5 LSU (SEC)
#7 TCU (Big XII)
#9 Missouri State (Missouri Valley)
#11 Louisville (ACC)
#12 Illinois (B1G)
#15 Houston (American)
#16 College of Charleston (Colonial)
#18 Radford (Big South)
#22 Rice (Conference USA)
#33 Cal State Fullerton (Big West)
#35 Nevada (Mountain West)
#37 Oral Roberts (Summit)
#46 Southeastern Louisiana (Southland)
#48 North Florida (Atlantic Sun)
#70 COLUMBIA (Ivy)
#75 Saint John’s (Big East)
#79 Stony Brook (America East)
#81 South Alabama (Sun Belt)
#82 San Diego (WCC)
#89 Saint Louis (Atlantic 10)
#91 Rider (MAAC)
#102 Central Michigan (MAC)
#130 Southeast Missouri State (OVC)
#136 Mercer (Southern)
#140 Grand Canyon (WAC) -- not sure if eligible for automatic bid, #261 Seattle next in line
#145 Alabama State (SWAC)
#164 UIC (Horizon)
#168 Bryant (Northeast)
#214 Navy (Patriot)
#248 Norfolk State (MEAC)

At-Larges (33)
#1 Dallas Baptist
#3 Miami
#4 Florida State
#6 Florida
#8 Texas A&M
#10 Vanderbilt
#13 Oklahoma State
#14 FAU
#17 UCSB
#19 Coastal Carolina
#20 North Carolina
#21 Iowa
#23 Bradley
#24 Auburn (BELOW .500 in SEC)
#25 Ohio State
#26 USC
#27 Arizona State
#28 Ole Miss
#29 Georgia Tech
#30 USF
#31 Virginia (BELOW .500 in ACC)
#32 Notre Dame
#34 Liberty
#36 NC State
#38 Oregon State

Last 8 In
#39 East Carolina – 5-12 vs. RPI top 50
#40 Cal – 3-3 vs. RPI top 50
#41 Michigan State – 7-9 vs. RPI top 50
#42 NC Wilmington – 3-11 vs. RPI top 50
#43 Arkansas – 10-10 vs. RPI top 50
#44 Nebraska – 2-11 vs. RPI top 50 (BELOW .500 in B1G)
#45 Maryland – 11-10 vs. RPI top 50
#47 Alabama – 7-15 vs. RPI top 50 (BELOW .500 in SEC)

First 8 Out
#49 Indiana – 10-8 vs. RPI top 50 (BELOW .500 in B1G)
#50 Tulane – 9-9 vs. RPI top 50
#51 UC Irvine – 4-6 vs. RPI top 50
#52 Missouri – 7-14 vs. RPI top 50
#53 Connecticut – 6-10 vs. RPI top 50
#54 Duke – 8-13 vs. RPI top 50 (BELOW .500 in ACC)
#55 UCF – 10-16 vs. RPI top 50 (BELOW .500 in American)
#56 Kentucky – 7-14 vs. RPI top 50 (BELOW .500 in SEC)

B1G Standings (through May 13)
1. Illinois (19-1)
2. Iowa (18-3)
T-3. Maryland (13-8)
T-3. Ohio State (13-8)
T-3. Michigan State (13-8)
6. Michigan (14-10)
7. Indiana (9-10)
8. Nebraska (9-12)
9. Minnesota (7-14)
10. Penn State (6-14)
11. *Northwestern (6-15)
12. *Rutgers (5-16)
13. *Purdue (3-17)
* denotes mathematically eliminated from B1G Tournament

Records vs. Current B1G Tournament Field
1. Illinois (7-1)
2. Iowa (10-2)
3. Michigan State (5-5)
4. Maryland (7-8)
5. Ohio State (5-7)
6. Michigan (5-8)
7. Indiana (5-9)
8. Nebraska (4-8)

Records vs. Projected "RPI" NCAA Tournament Field
1. Illinois (11-3)
2. Iowa (7-3)
3. Maryland (12-7)
4. Indiana (11-8)
5. Ohio State (10-9)
6. Michigan State (7-9)
7. Michigan (6-8)
8. Nebraska (2-11)
 

Tonight's game vs. MSU

Surprised they haven't called it off yet. Why don't they just play 2 on Friday when it's supposed to be a nice day, then they'll have all day Saturday to get Game 3 in. Besides, finishing the series is important only if the Gophers still have a shot to get in the BTT come Saturday morning.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Surprised they haven't called it off yet. Why don't they just play 2 on Friday when it's supposed to be a nice day, then they'll have all day Saturday to get Game 3 in. Besides, finishing the series is important only if the Gophers still have a shot to get in the BTT come Saturday morning.
Click to expand...
Would guess they will make the decision closer to game time just to see if they get decent enough weather but I wouldn't be surprised if they ultimately end up playing 2 tomorrow instead. Seems like the Gophers usually wait to decide until a couple hours before the game to decide what to do.
 


Still mathematically alive

Nebraska loses to Illinois. 25th straight win for Illinois. Gophers still mathematically alive going into Friday.

Indiana up 3-0 on OSU, Hoosiers would clinch spot in BTT if they hang on.
 

Indiana clinches spot in BTT

It's now down to Nebraska and Gophers for the final spot. Gophers must sweep MSU and Nebraska must lose its last 2 @ Illinois.

Illinois is locked in as the top seed, Iowa as the #2 seed. Seeds 3-8 still TBD.
 

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