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Coming into last night Minnesota Baseball controlled their own destiny in the Big Ten title race. Coming into today, the Gophers still do despite a loss to Ohio State. Thanks Nebraska!
GopherSports.com has the details:
Micah Coffey led the charge at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance that included a ground-rule double and an RBI single. Coffey extended his hitting streak to 13 games and has reached base safely in his last 15 contests.
Austin Athmann, Dan Motl and Connor Schaefbauer reach contributed a pair of hits, while Matt Stemperproduced an RBI ground out.
On the hill, Matt Fiedler got the nod and went 6.1 innings, scattering seven hits and one earned run, while striking out seven. Lucas Gilbreath was tagged with the loss in relief after he pitched the final 2.2 innings with five hits, one earned run and three strikeouts.
The game turned in the late innings. Minnesota putting runners on 1st and 2nd in the 7th only to leave them stranded. The Buckeyes did the same in the 9th, but were able to capitalize with yet another single to bring in what was the game winning run.
As I noted right up top, the good news from this close loss is that Minnesota remains in first place in the Big Ten following Nebraska's 4-1 win over Indiana. The loss does mean that Nebraska, Ohio State, and Michigan are now only two wins back of the Gophers in the Big Ten standings and it opens a number of title scenarios. The Gophers look to shut the door on everyone but Indiana (assuming they win) tonight at 6:30pm CT. Thanks to Big Ten Network, you can watch the game at the same time you watch Minnesota Softball take on NDSU in the NCAA Tourney!