Gopher Baseball Squad Suffers First Loss

The University of Minnesota baseball team (4-1) suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Creighton (1-4) 11-4 in Fort Myers, Fla., Saturday.

Right fielder Bobby Juan hit his first home run of the season, the fourth of his career, in the loss. Both third baseman Tommy Clouthier and second baseman Jake Peter hit home runs for the Blue Jays.

Like in Friday's game, Creighton scored first. Clouthier walked to get on base for Peter's two-run homer in the first inning. The Gophers got one run back in the bottom of the inning when second baseman Connor Schaefbauer (2-for-3) hit a triple to deep right-center and scored on a wild pitch.

Creighton added a run in the second inning, when left-fielder Brad McKewon drove in right-fielder Brett Murray with a single to make it 3-1. Minnesota again answered in the bottom of the inning as Juan led off with a home run over the right field fence.

The Blue Jays opened up the game in the fourth inning. First baseman Reagan Folwer and shortstop Ryan Fitzgerald walked, McKewon doubled and Clouthier hit a three-run homer to put Creighton ahead 7-2.

Juan hit a two-out double in the third, but neither team scored during the inning. The Gophers scored two runs in the fourth. Left fielder Tony Skjefte reached on an infield hit, and Schaefbauer on a fielder's choice. Both scored on first baseman Dan Olinger's single through the right side.

But the Gophers went scoreless for the remaining five innings, while Creighton tacked on three unearned runs in the ninth to seal the 11-4 win. Reliever Matt Warren, who pitched 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on six hits, got the win for the Blue Jays. Starter Jordan Jess took the loss for Minnesota.

Source: Gophersports.com