On Saturday, May 25, the Nebraska Huskers eliminated the Minnesota Gophers from the 2013 Big Ten Baseball tournament and advance to another elimination game playing against Ohio State. The game between the Huskers and the Gophers was the third game Minnesota had played in 24 hours, and came after a 3-1 win over Illinois earlier the morning.
The Gophers started with Dalton Sawyer, who lasted 3.2 innings before giving up six runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kevin Kray was up next, and Billy Soule pitched 2.0 innings and walked two in his final game as a Minnesota Gopher.
Matt Halloran led the hitting for Minnesota when he hit a three-run home run, while Pat Kelly from the Huskers also hit a three-run home run, adding a double to go 2-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
In the bottom of the fourth the Huskers were leading the Gophers 6-0. When Chad Christensen singled, and after a throwing error by Sawyer advanced all the way to third on a pickoff attempt. Christensen was singled in for the first run of the game by Kash Kalkowski, while Josh Scheffert also singled to put on two, and Tanner Lubach attempted a bunt and scored Kalkowski. Bryan Peters scored the third Huskers run when he singled to left field, and Kelly’s three-run home run into left field had the game standing at 6-0.
The Gophers, however, could not be counted out yet, after using a big innings of their own to score four runs in the top of the fifth with Ryan Abrahamson starting things off with a walk, followed by a double down by Troy Larson to the left field corner putting on two on the scoring position. Connor Schaefbauer scored Abrahamson from third by going the opposite field and getting one through the left side. Halloran’s second home run, having belted one over the right field limestone, plated three, leaving the Gophers trailing 6-4.
The Gopher’s overall scoring drops to 32-22 because of the loss, and also ends their season. It also marked the last game for Gopher seniors Ryan Abrahamson, JT Canakes, Andy Henkemeyer, Drew Ghelfi, Troy Larson, Kyle O’Shea, Kurt Schlangen and Billy Soule. Perhaps the Gophers need a site where fans can bet on who the new team members should be to replace the retirees, while enjoying some free slots at the same time.