Two Home Runs Not Enough in Big Ten Opener

Friday, March 27

Minneapolis, Minn.

3:05 PM

Northwestern

5-19, 0

Minnesota

8-13, 0

Northwestern

Minnesota

Two Home Runs Not Enough in Big Ten Opener

3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 27, 2015

Box Score

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	Minnesota 8, Northwestern 3 Seibert Field \| Minneapolis, Minn. Box Score (PDF) \| Box Score (HTML)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Northwestern tallied a pair of home runs in its Big Ten opener, but Minnesota used a six-run inning to defeat the Wildcats, 8-3, on Friday afternoon at Siebert Field.

Fifth-year senior Kyle Ruchim opened league play for Northwestern with his third home run of the year on just the second pitch of the game, but the Gophers were quick to respond with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.

Minnesota's Ben Meyer tossed four perfect innings to hold the `Cats without another hit until the sixth inning. Meanwhile, the Gophers used a six-run frame in the third to take control of the game, 8-2.

Northwestern had a chance in top of the sixth inning to close the gap as sophomore Joe Hoscheit sat on third after hitting a two-out double and advancing on a base hit, but the side was retired after senior Reid Hunter popped out to right field.

Sophomore Matt Hopfner triggered momentum for Chicago's Big Ten Team in the top of the ninth with a leadoff double to left field. Freshman JR Reimer followed up with his first homerun of the year to drive both Wildcats home and chip away at the deficit. Unfortunately for NU, that is the closest it would get as Minnesota claimed the series opener, 8-3.

Meyer earned the win for the Gophers after tossing 8 1/3 inning, allowing three runs on six hits and adding five strikeouts. Junior Matt Portland allowed eight runs on just as many hits and fanned six batters for the loss. First-year Tommy Bordignon pitched two perfect innings in relief for the `Cats and finished with one strikeout.

The Wildcats and Gophers return to action on Saturday, March 28, as they continue their Big Ten series at 3:05 p.m. Sophomore Joe Schindler is scheduled to take the mound for Northwestern and will face Minnesota's Toby Anderson.

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