All Things 2016 Gophers Baseball Season Thread

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Gophers lose game 1 to Indiana 12-8. Gopher pitching really struggled all night Fiedler only lasted 3.1 innings and gave up 6 runs on 6 hits. McDevitt took the loss pitching the next 2 innings giving up 5 hits and 4 runs. Gilbreath pitched 2.2 innings and gave up 2 runs on 4 hits while Manke pitched the 9th and gave up no runs on 1 hit. Offensively the Gophers got to Indiana ace Kyle Hart early with a double from Motl and 2 run homerun from Schaefbauer in the 1st to tie things up. Gophers got 3 more in the 2nd to build a lead but that was short lived as Indiana 2 in the 3rd and 4th to take a 6-5 lead. Gophers would answer in the bottom of the 4th with solo homers from Coffey and Jordan Smith to take a 7-6 lead but Indiana came right back to tie it in the 5th. Indiana opened up a 12-7 lead with a 5 run 6th and the Gophers got a solo homerun from Stemper in the bottom of the inning but that would be it. Gophers top part of the lineup really struggled tonight as the 2-5 hitters only managed to go 2-16. While both starters struggled and got hit pretty good the big difference was Hart was able to piece together 6 innings for Indiana. Gophers need bounce back tomorrow and still find a way to win the series. Really need a good start from Sawyer tomorrow after a short start tonight.
 

Anybody know whats going on with Terrin Vavra? I hope he's back soon, we need his bat in the lineup.
 

GameDay said:
Anybody know whats going on with Terrin Vavra? I hope he's back soon, we need his bat in the lineup.
Click to expand...
Believe it was some kind of back strain and it sounded like they probably wouldn't bring him back until the conference tournament or maybe sometime in the Ohio State series if everything was going well with the recovery.
 

I'm not going to get down on Fielder because he's done a great job this year facing teams best pitchers being in the number 1 spot. I think your number two guy is the most important spot on the rotation because you either keep the momentum going or stop the bleeding. This is a game where Dalton needs to stop the bleeding. Number two is a perfect spot for a Senior to be in.
 

Kind of a grinder of a game today that didn't start off real well for the Gophers. Sawyer walked the leadoff batter after it looked like he had struck him out twice. Indiana followed that with a double and quickly had 2nd and 3rd with nobody out but Sawyer was able to limit the damage to just 1 run. The Gophers looked like they would answer in the bottom of the inning as Motl led off with a double, Schaefbauer then struck out chasing a pitch but Fiedler followed with a single to set up 1st and 3rd with 1 out for Athmann. Athmann would strike out chasing a pitch out of the zone and Fiedler got in a rundown between 1st and 2nd but Indiana threw it to 3rd to try to get Motl as he had got off the bag a little but the throw was wide and got past the 3rd baseman so Motl tried to score but was thrown out at the plate to end an eventful 1st inning. Sawyer would settle in some and strike out the side in the 2nd. The Gophers offense got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd with Stemper being hit by a pitch followed by a 2 run homerun from Coffey. Indiana tied it right back up in the 3rd with a lead off hit by pitch, a strikeout, steal of 2nd, strikeout, Single to score the run, and a strikeout. Gophers took the lead right back with a leadoff solo homer from Motl in the 3rd. Sawyer then would go the next 3 innings without giving up a run giving a solid start of 6 innings, 7 hits 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, and 8 strikeouts. Gophers built a lead scoring 2 in the 4th and 5th and 1 in the 6th while Sawyer put up zeros. Glowicki came in for the 7th and worked around a hit but in the 8th Indiana got to him as he walked the leadoff man and then gave up 3 straight hits and exited without recording an out in the 8th, his final line was 1 inning pitched 4 hits, 4 runs(2 earned), 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. Jess came in for the save and went 2 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts. Big game tomorrow Gophers need to go get another win and take the series.
 


Gophers drop their 1st B1G series and definitely do a lot of damage to their NCAA hosting chances. Game where Gophers couldn't convert on a few of their chances offensively and a couple of bad errors proved costly. Anderson gave the Gophers a strong start going 6.2 innings scattering 9 hits and giving up 3 runs but only 2 earned. Looked like the Gophers would jump out to an early lead in the 1st as Schaefbauer and Fiedler hit back to back singles setting Athmann up with 1st and 3rd and only 1 out but Indiana was able to get a double play to escape damage. Gophers had a similar situation in the 3rd as Schaefbauer singled to score J. Smith who had doubled and Pettersen who had singled advanced to 3rd on the play. So Fiedler was up with 1st and 3rd and 1 out but another double play got Indiana out of the inning. Indiana scored 2 in the 5th to take the lead but the Gophers answered right back with a Motl triple followed by a Schaefbauer single to tie it up. Indiana scored a unearned run in the 6th as they had a single and then tried a sac bunt but Athmann was able to throw the lead runner out at 2nd the problem was Pettersen made a bad decision to try to turn the double play and his throw got by Hanson and allowed the runner to get to 2nd anyway and Indiana would follow with a single to score the run. It looked like the Gophers might have an answer again as Coffey led off with a single but Stemper followed by hitting into a double play and Indiana then went to the bullpen and they shut things down the rest of the way. Gophers had already fell to 30 in the RPI with the split so I'd guess todays loss will move them down around 35-40. No midweek game this week so a chance to get a little rest and refocus. Crucial to go to Purdue and get the sweep next weekend. The wins aren't gonna help the RPI numbers out at all as Purdue is currently 277 but a loss would sure be damaging.
 

B1G RPI Top 5/B1G Tournament Seedings (through May 8)

Note, Nebraska and Michigan State cap their extended weekend series at noon today on BTN.

B1G RPI Top 5
#23 Michigan (34-12, 12-5)
#34 GOPHERS (28-15, 12-5)
#50 Michigan State (31-12, 11-6)
#54 Nebraska (29-17, 10-7)
#57 Maryland (25-21, 10-8)

Movin' On In: ---
Movin' On Out: ---

This Weekend
Illinois (9-9) @ Indiana (13-5)
GOPHERS (12-5) @ Purdue (2-19)
Michigan (12-5) @ Ohio State (10-8)
Michigan State (12-6/11-7) @ Iowa (8-10)
Penn State (10-8) @ Nebraska (11-7/10-8)
Rutgers (6-12) @ Maryland (10-8)
Cal @ Northwestern (non-conference), 4-game series

Current B1G Tournament Seedings
1. Indiana (13-5)
2. GOPHERS (12-5)
3. Michigan (12-5)
4. Michigan State (11-6)
5. Nebraska (10-7)
6. Maryland (10-8)
7. Penn State (10-8)
8. Ohio State (10-8)
 

Someone told me they read that the Big Ten tournament this year will be single elimination. I told them, I know Softball is, but I thought Baseball is still double elimination. Does anyone know for sure?
 




It looks like it's the same format as the CWS, except with a single game championship.
 

D1Baseball's May 11 Field of 64 Projection: Gophers drop to a #2 seed

B1G holding its 4 bids from last week, though Nebraska replaces Maryland. Also in are Michigan and Michigan State.

No Indiana, so am assuming D1Baseball considers Michigan (same amount of B1G losses as IU + best RPI) the B1G's automatic qualifier.

B1G Projections
#1 Michigan vs. #4 Kent State in Ann Arbor Regional
#2 Gophers vs. #3 Kentucky in Louisville Regional
#3 Nebraska vs. #2 FAU in Coral Gables Regional
#3 Michigan State vs. #2 Georgia Tech in Gainesville Regional

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B1G Weekend: Every Series Has B1G Tournament & NCAA Impact

Every series this weekend has some kind of NCAA Tournament impact, including the non-conference one (on-the-bubble Cal @ Northwestern). But first things first. Only 3 games separate 1st place (Indiana) from 8th (Maryland, Ohio State & Penn State tied for 6th). The top 8 make the B1G Tournament, and Illinois (9-9) and Iowa (8-10) are nipping on their heels.

The slate for Friday:

Illinois (9-9) @ Indiana (13-5), 5:05
Rutgers (6-12) @ Maryland (10-8), 5:30
Michigan (12-5) @ Ohio State (10-8), 5:35
GOPHERS (12-5) @ Purdue (2-19), 6
Michigan State (11-7) @ Iowa (8-10), 6:05
Penn State (10-8) @ Nebraska (11-7), 6:35
Cal @ Northwestern (non-conference), 4-game series starts Saturday

Weekend predictions?

Indiana takes 2 of 3 from Illinois.
Maryland takes 2 of 3 from Rutgers
Michigan takes 2 of 3 from Ohio State
GOPHERS sweep Purdue
Michigan State takes 2 of 3 from Iowa
Nebraska sweeps Penn State
Cal takes 3 of 4 from Northwestern
 

SelectionSunday said:
Every series this weekend has some kind of NCAA Tournament impact, including the non-conference one (on-the-bubble Cal @ Northwestern). But first things first. Only 3 games separate 1st place (Indiana) from 8th (Maryland, Ohio State & Penn State tied for 6th). The top 8 make the B1G Tournament, and Illinois (9-9) and Iowa (8-10) are nipping on their heels.

The slate for Friday:

Illinois (9-9) @ Indiana (13-5), 5:05
Rutgers (6-12) @ Maryland (10-8), 5:30
Michigan (12-5) @ Ohio State (10-8), 5:35
GOPHERS (12-5) @ Purdue (2-19), 6
Michigan State (11-7) @ Iowa (8-10), 6:05
Penn State (10-8) @ Nebraska (11-7), 6:35
Cal @ Northwestern (non-conference), 4-game series starts Saturday

Weekend predictions?

Indiana takes 2 of 3 from Illinois.
Maryland takes 2 of 3 from Rutgers
Michigan takes 2 of 3 from Ohio State
GOPHERS sweep Purdue
Michigan State takes 2 of 3 from Iowa
Nebraska sweeps Penn State
Cal takes 3 of 4 from Northwestern
Click to expand...
Crazy night in the B1G. Michigan, Indiana and Nebraska all lose and the Gophers win in extra innings. Have to sweep Purdue.
 



Not one of the Gophers better games but got the win which is most important. Gophers left 11 on base and really just didn't seem quite as locked in at the plate as they have most of the time this season. Offensively Fiedler had a 2 run homerun and Coffey had a solo shot. The game winning run was set up by a Boxwell double followed by a wild pitch and Hanson walk to set up 1st and 3rd with 1 out and Jordan Smith hit a sac fly to score the run. On the mound Fiedler had a tough 1st giving up a run on 2 hits and a walk. Fiedler then settled in not giving up a hit in the next 4 innings. Fiedler got into trouble in the 7th giving up a leadoff single, followed by a bunt single that was more of a misplay by the Gophers, and a hit by pitch to give Purdue bases loaded nobody out. Fiedler got a groundout for the 1st out but it scored the tying run and then a strikeout before exiting the game for Gilbreath. Gilbreath did get the next guy out on a flyout but the go ahead run scored during the at bat on a passed ball by Athmann. Gilbreath got through the 8th and 9th giving up 1 hit, walking 2, and striking out 3 before Jess came in to get the save in the 10th in a 1,2,3 inning.
 

B1G Tournament Seedings (through May 13)

Bracket 1
1. Gophers (13-5)
4. Michigan State (12-7)
5. Penn State (11-8)
8. Illinois (10-9)

Bracket 2
2. Indiana (13-6)
3. Michigan (12-6)
6. Ohio State (11-8)
7. Nebraska (11-8)

Still in the Hunt
9. Maryland (10-9)
10. Iowa (8-11)
11. Rutgers (7-12)

B1G Saturday
Rutgers (7-12) @ Maryland (10-9), 11
Gophers (13-5) @ Purdue (2-20), 1
Illinois (10-9) @ Indiana (13-6), 1
Michigan (12-6) @ Ohio State (11-8), 2
Michigan State (12-7) @ Iowa (8-11), 2
Penn State (11-8) @ Nebraska (11-8), 2
Cal @ Northwestern (non-conference), 2
 

It didn't look good for the Gophers as they seemed to sleep walk through the first 7 innings and were held to just 3 runs, 3 hits, and trailed 4-3 to Purdue but the Gophers erupted for a 9 run 8th and 2 more in the 9th to win 14-4. Dalton Sawyer started today and struggled some as did the defense behind him a little. He went 4 innings giving up 4 runs only 2 earned, 6 hits, walking 4, and striking out 8. Tyler Hanson pitched the final 5 innings to earn the win giving up just 3 hits and striking out 4. Offensively Dan Motl had 3 hits and scored 4 runs and Toby Hanson had a double in the 4th and then a big 3 run homerun to cap the big 8th inning.
 

Gophers complete the sweep at Purdue. Offensively the Gophers had some bad luck hitting a number of balls very hard but right at Purdue I think there was 1 inning where Purdue caught all 3 outs on the warning track and 2 were right at the wall. Toby Anderson was outstanding on the mound today and the defense was great behind him as well. Anderson went all 9 innings for the shutout giving up just 4 hits while striking out 5 and not walking a batter. Purdue wasn't able to get a runner beyond 1st base until the 8th inning. Gophers will play at South Dakota State Tuesday before hosting Ohio State Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

 

It's too bad the Gophers bullpen is not a little stronger because Fiedler, Sawyer, Gilbreath and Anderson is a strong four man rotation for starting pitchers.
 

That was an absolute must sweep and we did it. Two games could have gone the other way which would have been a bracket busting weekend. We are a game up on Indiana, we get Ohio St next weekend and they get Nebraska. Both Ohio St and Nebraska are currently in B10 playoff contention and need wins. Ohio St beat Michigan both Friday and Saturday and is currently winning 6-2 late in game 3. That would be a huge sweep for Ohio St and that would leave Michigan no chance at the regular season title.
 

There were people on college baseball sites handing the Big Ten title to Michigan after they swept Rugters at home last week. When I looked at the schedule and saw that Michigan was at Ohio State and at Illinois to close up the Big Ten season, I thought there is no way Michigan is going to win the Big Ten title.
 


Thursday-Saturday B1G Game Times

Great weekend of B1G baseball ahead, as not a single seed has been clinched for the B1G Tournament in Omaha. Only Northwestern and Purdue have been eliminated from tournament contention.

B1G Thursday
Northwestern @ Rutgers (8-13), 12
Maryland (11-10) @ Michigan State (12-9), 2:05 (BTN)
Iowa (10-11) @ Penn State (11-10), 5:30
Michigan (12-8) @ Illinois (10-11), 6
Ohio State (13-8) @ Minnesota (15-5), 6:30
Indiana (15-6) @ Nebraska (13-8), 6:35

B1G Friday
Northwestern @ Rutgers, 12
Iowa @ Penn State, 1 (Game 1)
Maryland @ Michigan State, 2:05
Iowa @ Penn State, 4:15 (Game 2)
Michigan @ Illinois, 6
Ohio State @ Minnesota, 6:30 (BTN)
Indiana @ Nebraska, 6:35

B1G Saturday
Northwestern @ Rutgers, 12
Maryland @ Michigan State, 12:05
Indiana @ Nebraska, 1:02 (BTN)
Ohio State @ Minnesota, 2
Michigan @ Illinois, 3:30 (BTN)
 

Does anyone know if Coffey is injured? They have him sitting out for the second straight game.
 

I think John Anderson can be way too stubborn about his mid-week pitching.
 

Golden04 said:
Does anyone know if Coffey is injured? They have him sitting out for the second straight game.
Click to expand...
Yes believe he got hurt late in the win Saturday as he came out then but not sure on the severity.

Gophers with a terrible start against South Dakota State today down 5-1 after 2 innings. Shannon started and lasted 1.1 innings giving up 5 runs on 3 hits while Manke is on now and got the final 2 outs of the 2nd but also gave up 2 hits. A loss today could be pretty damaging with SDSU sitting at 237 in the RPI so the Gophers better find their game pretty quick here.
 

A loss here would send us down even further in the RPI. We don't have the NCAA tourney wrapped up by any means.
 

Gophers scored 2 in the top of the 9th to take a 6-5 lead but SDSU got 1 in the bottom to send it to extras. Thought we would see Jess or Glowicki to close it out but 14 stuck with McDevitt for a 3rd inning and he struck out the leadoff batter before a single and 4 pitch walk. 14 then came out to the mound and I thought he would make the move but stuck with McDevitt and SDSU got a single to tie it then McDevitt salvaged it to send it to extras with a strikeout, intentional walk, and strikeout.
 

These mid-week games are absolutely crucial to win this time of season. We are fighting for an NCAA tourney bid. We need to win every game this time of season. Why in the world is Jess not in there in the ninth? I like McDevitt, but Jess should be in there in the ninth with the lead. I'm frustrated with some of Anderson's decisions today, We need to win this game.
 

Gophers lose 7-6. Glowicki came in for the 10th and got the 1st guy out with a strikeout but the SDSU 8 hitter who was 4-5 on the day singled and then 2 wild pitches advanced him to 3rd. With 2 strikes SDSU put down a bunt to score the winning run. I'm not one to usually question much that 14 does because look at his resume but there were definitely some very questionable decisions today. Gophers didn't play well today and really kind of skimmed by at Purdue for most of the weekend as well but they better find a way to get back to the top of their game by Thursday because Ohio State is a team with a bunch of talent and looks to be playing their best right now.
 

I look back at the NDSU game and today's game and wonder about some of coaches decision's when it came to pitching. I understand mid-week games are different but losing those two mid-week games really hurt our RPI. These last three weeks the Gophs have been mediocre in performance, and this week is not starting off to well. I know we've performed way better then last year, but it's been frustrating seeing this slide.
 

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