David Roach (Clearwater, Fla.) doubled home Luke Appert in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Minnesota baseball team (38-18) a 4-3 victory over Penn State (27-27) on Friday, May 22 in the Big Ten Tournament at Siebert Field. The win moved Minnesota to 1-0 in the tournament and put them in the winners bracket with Ohio State, while Penn State dropped to 1-1 in tournament play.
The two teams entered the bottom of the ninth inning tied 3-3. Appert got the Golden Gophers started with a leadoff single. Scott Welch (Missoula, Mon.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move over Appert to second. After the Nittany Lions intentionally walked Andy Hunter (West St. Paul, Minn.), Roach came through with double to right centerfield to give Minnesota the 4-3 win.
Redshirt freshman Glen Perkins (Stillwater, Minn.) shook off a quick start by the Penn State Nittany Lions to pitch a complete game, and earn his 10th straight win to move to 10-1 on the season. Perkins gave up eight hits and three runs, while striking out 11 batters. With the 11 strikeouts he moved his season strikeout total to 112 to break the Minnesota single-season record of 110 previously set by Mike Diebolt in 1997.
Penn State got on the board in the first inning on a two-run homer by Matt Harter to go up 2-0. Harter continued his power display in the top of the third with his second homer to make it 3-0.
Minnesota got on the board in the bottom of the third when Hunter singled home Appert to make it 3-1. Appert was hit by a pitch, and moved to second a Welch walk. Hunter then delivered and RBI single to right field.
The Golden Gophers tied it up at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth. David Hrncirik (Madison, Wis.) led off the inning with a single and Jake Elder (Delta, British Columbia) made it first and second when he reached on an error. After Tony Leseman (St. Paul, Minn.) sacrificed the runners to second and third, Steidl hit a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-2. Ben Pattee (Ukiah, Calif.) then singled home Elder to tie the game.
Penn State pitcher Aaron Tressler took the loss in relief to fall to 2-5 on the season. Nittany Lion starter Sean Stidfole matched Perkins leaving the game with score tied at 3-3 in the eight, after going seven and two thirds, giving up one earned run and striking out five.
Minnesota was led offensively by Roach and Hunter who were both two for four with an RBI. Hrncirik was two for three with a run, while Appert was one for three with two runs.
The Golden Gophers will play Ohio State in the winners bracket game on Saturday, May 23 at either 12:05 or 3:35 p.m. If Indiana defeats Penn State in Game six Minnesota and Ohio State would play at 12:05 p.m. If Penn State wins, Minnesota and Ohio State would play at 3:35 p.m. Stay tuned to morningspin.com for details.