Gophers Win Slugfest at No. 19 Maryland – University of Minnesota Athletics

COLLEGE PARK, Mary. —The Minnesota Golden Gophers won a wild one on Friday night at No. 19 Maryland, outlasting the Terrapins by the score of 10-7. The win is the Gophers first top-25 victory of the season.

Sophomore southpaw Tucker Novotny (3-5) went 5.0 innings, striking out seven with seven earned runs and four walks. He left with his team leading 9-7 after five. Connor Wietgrefe came on in relief of Novotny, going 4.0 innings of scoreless work with seven strikeouts for his fourth save.

The Gophers’ offensive slugfest saw the team tie a season-high with four home runs. Riley Swenson went 2-for-4 with four RBI, a double and a home run to pace the ‘U’. Weber Neels tallied three hits, including a home run, while Boston Merila and Kris Hokenson each hit two-run bombs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Maryland started the scoring with a two-run home run by Nick Lorusso in the bottom of the first. Minnesota would answer right back, however, getting three in the top of the second on a two-out bases-clearing double by Riley Swenson.

After two scoreless innings from Novotny, the Gophers tallied three more in the fourth, getting a solo home run from Riley Swenson and a two-run shot from Boston Merila to go up 6-2. The Terps responded in the bottom of the inning with two long balls of their own, getting a three-run shot and a two-run shot to go up 7-6.

Another three spot in the fifth put the Gophers back in front, 9-7. Weber Neels hit his sixth home run of the year to tie the game at seven. After a walk from Kyle Bork, Kris Hokenson drilled a two-run bomb to put his team ahead.

Brady Counsell doubled home Hokenson in the top of the eighth to help Minnesota extend its lead to 10-7. Left-hander Connor Wietgrefe closed the game, throwing 4.0 scoreless innings for the save, striking out seven with just two hits allowed.

GAME NOTES
» The Gophers were 0-6 all-time at Maryland before tonight.
» Minnesota tied a season-high with four home runs.
» The Gophers totaled 10+ hits for the fourth time in conference play (4-0 record).
» Weber Neels tallied his first three-hit game as a Gopher.
» Riley Swenson tied a career-high with four RBI.
» Connor Wietgrefe (4.0 IP, 2 H, 7 K) posted his 11th scoreless outing of the season for his seventh save.
» Boston Merila hit his second career home run, two years after hitting his first at Maryland (May 2, 2021).
» Maryland was led offensively by Matt Shaw, who went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI.

UP NEXT
The Gophers (15-31, 8-11 Big Ten) and Maryland (33-18, 13-6 Big Ten) play again tomorrow. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on B1G+.