Bison Fall Victim to Gophers' Sixth-Inning Rally

Tuesday, April 26

Fargo, N.D.

6:30 p.m.

North Dakota State

3-32-1

Minnesota

22-16

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Minnesota	1	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	2	7	10	3
North Dakota State	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	3

Bison Fall Victim to Gophers' Sixth-Inning Rally

4/27/2005 2:10:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

FARGO, N.D.--The Minnesota Gophers rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth inning and tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth for a 7-3 victory over North Dakota State in college baseball Tuesday, April 26, before a record crowd at Newman Outdoor Field.

The Gophers (22-16) hit five singles off reliever Shane Bushland, who started the sixth inning and was pulled after getting only one out -- an RBI ground out by Minnesota third baseman David Hrncirik that tied the game at 3.

After singles by Matt Fornasiere and Mike Mee, the Gophers' Andy Hunter singled in Fornasiere with the eventual game-winning run.

NDSU (3-32-1) got base hits from Tim Erickson and Kole Zimmerman in the seventh, but the Bison left both runners on base and never threatened the rest of the way.

Minnesota jumped out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings. Bison starter Terry Tchida walked the leadoff man both innings and both runners scored.

The Bison scored unearned runs in the second and third to tie the game and then went ahead in the fourth.

Gavin Hofer led off with a single to right field, Ryan Langlais sacrificed him to second with a bunt, and Nathan Thomas singled through the right side two batters later to score Hofer.

Tchida struck out his sixth and seventh batters of the game in a scoreless fifth inning but did not start the sixth. He allowed two runs on four hits and walked six.

Bushland dropped to 0-4 on the year with the loss.

Minnesota left-hander Marcus McKenzie went six innings in relief of starter Gary Perinar and was the winner. McKenzie allowed one run on four hits, walked one and struck out seven.

Center fielder Taylor VanderAarde was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, three stolen bases and two runs scored in the leadoff spot for the Gophers.

Fornasiere, Mee, and catcher Jeff DeSmidt each had two hits for Minnesota.

Both teams committed three errors in the game and the teams combined to strand 25 runners on base.

The crowd of 922 on hand for the first Division I baseball opponent in Fargo set a new NDSU record for home attendance. The previous high was 868 for the University of North Dakota game in April 2004.

North Dakota State is scheduled to host South Dakota State for a four-game series this weekend beginning with a doubleheader Saturday, April 30. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.