Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Kick Off 10-Day Road Trip with Games at Sacramento State, Pacific
2/29/2024 12:15:00 PM | Baseball
Friday, Mar. 1
Minnesota vs. Pacific
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. CT
Location: John Smith Field; Sacramento, Calif.
Gophers Starter: RHP Will Semb (1-0, 0.93 ERA, 9.2 IP, 12 K)
Tigers Starter: TBD
TV: No Stream Available
Saturday, Mar. 2
Minnesota at Sacramento State
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. CT
Location: John Smith Field; Sacramento, Calif.
Gophers Starter: LHP Connor Wietgrefe (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 8.1 IP, 5 K)
Hornets Starter: TBD
TV: WAC Digital Network
Sunday, Feb. 25
Minnesota at Sacramento State
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. CT
Location: John Smith Field; Sacramento, Calif.
Gophers Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 8.0 IP, 12 K)
Hornets Starter: TBD
TV: WAC Digital Network
Monday, Mar. 4
Minnesota at Pacific
First Pitch: 5:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Klein Family Field; Stockton, Calif.
Gophers Starter: TBD
Tigers Starter: TBD
TV: ESPN+
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Gophers (2-4) begin a 10-day west coast road trip this weekend as they travel to California to take on the University of the Pacific (2-6) and Sacramento State (3-5).
There will be no stream for Friday's neutral site game versus Pacific. Saturday and Sunday's games will be broadcast on the WAC Digital Network, while Monday's game will be on ESPN+. Live stats for all games are available on GopherSports.com.
Last Time Out
The Gophers traveled to Fort Myers, Fla. to play an exhibition against the Twins ahead of a two-game series with Northeastern. The Gophers fell in both games to the Huskies, 8-7 and 6-2.
Anderson's Final Ride
-The 2024 season will be head coach John Anderson's 43rd and final year leading the Gophers. He announced in December that he will retire at the conclusion of the season.
-Anderson has led Minnesota to 11 Big Ten titles and have made the NCAA Tournament 19 times. He is an eight-time Big Ten Coach of the Year honoree and was named Mideast Region Coach of the Year three times.
-Anderson's career began as a player for the Gophers in 1974 before he became a student assistant from 1976-77 and graduate assistant in 1978. From 1979-81, he served as an assistant coach before being hired as the head coach in '81.
Scouting the Opposition
-The Pacific Tigers are 2-6 to start the season. Their two wins came over UNLV in the season opener, 2-1, and NDSU last Friday, 7-6.
-Sophomore Kaden Petersen leads the offensive charge for the Tigers, slashing .333/.455/.519 with two doubles and a home run.
-Pacific is led on the mound by junior Ethan Shaver who is 1-0 in two starts with a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts.
-The Sacramento State Hornets have a 3-5 record after two weeks of play. The Hornets have picked up wins over Loyola Marymount, Fresno State and UC Santa Barbara.
-Sophomore JP Smith and junior Tyler White have provided the power for the Hornets. Smith has three home runs and seven RBIs in eight games, while White has two home runs and six RBIs. The two are both slugging over .500 for the season.
-The Hornets have two starting pitchers with sub-three ERAs to begin the year. R-Sr. Evan Gibbons has 11 punch outs in 11.0 innings with a 1.64 ERA, while junior Tyler Stewart has 10 Ks in 11.0 innings with a 2.45 ERA.
Opponent Series History
-Minnesota and Pacific last faced each other in 2008 with the Tigers winning two of three over the Gophers.
-The Gophers have squared off against the Hornets 10 times in history with the last being 2017.
-Minnesota leads the all-time series 6-4, winning two of three in their last matchup in 2017.
Thor Hammers Opponents
-Senior transfer Justin Thorsteinson has made two strong appearances out of the Gophers' bullpen this year.
-For the season, Thorsteinson has collected eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings of relief. He has allowed just one run on two hits and has held opponents to a .095 batting average, which ranks third in the Big Ten.
Patience at the Plate
-The Gophers have drawn 41 walks in their first six games, which is tied for third in the Big Ten.
-For the season, the 'U' is reaching base at a .377 clip, totaling 51 hits, 41 walks and eight HBP.
Jake's Leading the Gopher Offense
-Juniors Jake Perry and Jake Larson have led the Gopher offense in the first six games.
-Perry leads all players with eight hits and 12 total bases. He is slashing .333/.467/.500 to start the season, tallying five walks, two doubles and a triple.
-Larson hit the Gophers first home run of the year, traveling 371 feet. The Covington, Wash. native is hitting .333/.375/.667 with 10 total bases in 15 at bats. He has five hits, including a triple and a home run to go along with five RBI and three runs scored.
Semb Slinging it in First Two Starts
-After missing 2023 with an injury, redshirt junior Will Semb has made a big impact in the starting rotation for Minnesota.
-In two starts, Semb has pitched 9.2 innings, allowing just one earned run with 12 strikeouts.
-The De Pere, Wis. native ranks fourth in the Big Ten in opponent average (.121), fifth in ERA (0.93) and sixth in strikeouts (12).
On the Road Again
-Without the availability of U.S. Bank Stadium due to turf replacement, the Gophers will play their first 22 games of the year on the road.
-Minnesota's first home game is scheduled for April 2 against South Dakota State.
What's on Deck
The Gophers will continue their 10-day road trip by traveling north to Spokane, Wash. Minnesota will face Gonzaga in a three-game series before heading back east March 15-17 to take on Elon University in North Carolina.
Minnesota vs. Pacific
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. CT
Location: John Smith Field; Sacramento, Calif.
Gophers Starter: RHP Will Semb (1-0, 0.93 ERA, 9.2 IP, 12 K)
Tigers Starter: TBD
TV: No Stream Available
Saturday, Mar. 2
Minnesota at Sacramento State
First Pitch: 6:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. CT
Location: John Smith Field; Sacramento, Calif.
Gophers Starter: LHP Connor Wietgrefe (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 8.1 IP, 5 K)
Hornets Starter: TBD
TV: WAC Digital Network
Sunday, Feb. 25
Minnesota at Sacramento State
First Pitch: 1:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m. CT
Location: John Smith Field; Sacramento, Calif.
Gophers Starter: LHP Tucker Novotny (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 8.0 IP, 12 K)
Hornets Starter: TBD
TV: WAC Digital Network
Monday, Mar. 4
Minnesota at Pacific
First Pitch: 5:00 p.m. PT/7:00 p.m. CT
Location: Klein Family Field; Stockton, Calif.
Gophers Starter: TBD
Tigers Starter: TBD
TV: ESPN+
MINNEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Gophers (2-4) begin a 10-day west coast road trip this weekend as they travel to California to take on the University of the Pacific (2-6) and Sacramento State (3-5).
There will be no stream for Friday's neutral site game versus Pacific. Saturday and Sunday's games will be broadcast on the WAC Digital Network, while Monday's game will be on ESPN+. Live stats for all games are available on GopherSports.com.
Last Time Out
The Gophers traveled to Fort Myers, Fla. to play an exhibition against the Twins ahead of a two-game series with Northeastern. The Gophers fell in both games to the Huskies, 8-7 and 6-2.
Anderson's Final Ride
-The 2024 season will be head coach John Anderson's 43rd and final year leading the Gophers. He announced in December that he will retire at the conclusion of the season.
-Anderson has led Minnesota to 11 Big Ten titles and have made the NCAA Tournament 19 times. He is an eight-time Big Ten Coach of the Year honoree and was named Mideast Region Coach of the Year three times.
-Anderson's career began as a player for the Gophers in 1974 before he became a student assistant from 1976-77 and graduate assistant in 1978. From 1979-81, he served as an assistant coach before being hired as the head coach in '81.
Scouting the Opposition
-The Pacific Tigers are 2-6 to start the season. Their two wins came over UNLV in the season opener, 2-1, and NDSU last Friday, 7-6.
-Sophomore Kaden Petersen leads the offensive charge for the Tigers, slashing .333/.455/.519 with two doubles and a home run.
-Pacific is led on the mound by junior Ethan Shaver who is 1-0 in two starts with a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts.
-The Sacramento State Hornets have a 3-5 record after two weeks of play. The Hornets have picked up wins over Loyola Marymount, Fresno State and UC Santa Barbara.
-Sophomore JP Smith and junior Tyler White have provided the power for the Hornets. Smith has three home runs and seven RBIs in eight games, while White has two home runs and six RBIs. The two are both slugging over .500 for the season.
-The Hornets have two starting pitchers with sub-three ERAs to begin the year. R-Sr. Evan Gibbons has 11 punch outs in 11.0 innings with a 1.64 ERA, while junior Tyler Stewart has 10 Ks in 11.0 innings with a 2.45 ERA.
Opponent Series History
-Minnesota and Pacific last faced each other in 2008 with the Tigers winning two of three over the Gophers.
-The Gophers have squared off against the Hornets 10 times in history with the last being 2017.
-Minnesota leads the all-time series 6-4, winning two of three in their last matchup in 2017.
Thor Hammers Opponents
-Senior transfer Justin Thorsteinson has made two strong appearances out of the Gophers' bullpen this year.
-For the season, Thorsteinson has collected eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings of relief. He has allowed just one run on two hits and has held opponents to a .095 batting average, which ranks third in the Big Ten.
Patience at the Plate
-The Gophers have drawn 41 walks in their first six games, which is tied for third in the Big Ten.
-For the season, the 'U' is reaching base at a .377 clip, totaling 51 hits, 41 walks and eight HBP.
Jake's Leading the Gopher Offense
-Juniors Jake Perry and Jake Larson have led the Gopher offense in the first six games.
-Perry leads all players with eight hits and 12 total bases. He is slashing .333/.467/.500 to start the season, tallying five walks, two doubles and a triple.
-Larson hit the Gophers first home run of the year, traveling 371 feet. The Covington, Wash. native is hitting .333/.375/.667 with 10 total bases in 15 at bats. He has five hits, including a triple and a home run to go along with five RBI and three runs scored.
Semb Slinging it in First Two Starts
-After missing 2023 with an injury, redshirt junior Will Semb has made a big impact in the starting rotation for Minnesota.
-In two starts, Semb has pitched 9.2 innings, allowing just one earned run with 12 strikeouts.
-The De Pere, Wis. native ranks fourth in the Big Ten in opponent average (.121), fifth in ERA (0.93) and sixth in strikeouts (12).
On the Road Again
-Without the availability of U.S. Bank Stadium due to turf replacement, the Gophers will play their first 22 games of the year on the road.
-Minnesota's first home game is scheduled for April 2 against South Dakota State.
What's on Deck
The Gophers will continue their 10-day road trip by traveling north to Spokane, Wash. Minnesota will face Gonzaga in a three-game series before heading back east March 15-17 to take on Elon University in North Carolina.