March 12, 2006
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -
For just the second time this season, the Illinois State baseball team was shut out by an opponent as the Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Redbirds 9-0 on Sunday in the final game of the Metrodome Classic. The Redbirds were shut out previously by Iowa 10-0 on February 25th at the Austin Peay Invitational in Clarksville, Tenn. ISU now falls to 2-9 on the season, while Minnesota is now .500 with a record of 5-5.
Junior Luke Baughman (0-2) earned the loss as the starter, after giving up three runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Minnesota starter Dustin Brabender (1-2) earned the win and surrendered all four Redbird hits and struck out six batters in his seven innings. Reliever Bill Johnson and Gary Perinar each pitched one inning of hitless baseball in relief of Brabender to secure the shutout for the Golden Gophers
After both teams failed to score in the first three innings, Minnesota got on the scoreboard first with three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning against Baughman. Mike Mee led off the inning with a triple to right-center field and scored on wild pitch by Baughman to Dan Lyons. After Lyons walked and Andy Hunter singled, the Golden Gophers had two runners on base with no outs. Nate Hanson was next up for the Gophers and singled home Lyons from second for a 2-0 lead. Minnesota would tack on one more run when Kyle Baran's single scored Hunter from third base to extend the lead to 3-0.
Minnesota would add another run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a pinch-hit double by Sean Kommerstad that scored Hanson from second to bring the lead to 4-0. The Golden Gophers then added four runs on five hits and with the help of two Redbird errors in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 8-0. One final run in the bottom of the eighth inning ended the scoring for Minnesota and brought the final score to 9-0.
Ryan Anetsberger and Jesse Griswold each had two hits against Minnesota, which accounted for the four total hits the Redbirds had on the day. Ten Minnesota players had hits against ISU, with Mike Mee, Hunter, Hanson and Kommerstad all chipping in with two hits. Kevin Carlson also had two RBI in the game for the Golden Gophers.
ISU returns to action on Tuesday when it continues its spring break trip by traveling to Lincoln, Neb., to face the No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers. It will be the first of two games against the Huskers, as the teams will play at 1:05 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday at Hawks Field.
