Gophers Use Long Ball to Beat Bison, 10-4

Wednesday, May 2

Minneapolis, Minn.

6:30 p.m.

North Dakota State

8-23

Minnesota

31-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Dakota State	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	11	2
Minnesota	3	0	3	0	4	0	0	0	X	10	10	0

Gophers Use Long Ball to Beat Bison, 10-4

5/3/2007 3:55:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS--The Minnesota Gophers belted a pair of three-run homers on their way to a 10-4 victory over North Dakota State in college baseball Wednesday night at Siebert Field.

Minnesota shortstop Dan Lyons hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first inning to give the Gophers a 3-1 lead, and catcher Kyle Knudson's three-run blast capped a four-run fifth inning that pushed Minnesota's lead to 10-3.

North Dakota State had 11 hits to Minnesota's 10. Bison shortstop Matt Mossey was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and third baseman Ryan Langlais and first baseman Sebastian Miles each had two hits.

Lyons, Derek McCallum and Jeff DeSmidt each had two hits for Minnesota (31-8), the second-place team in the Big Ten Conference.

NDSU (8-23) opened the scoring in the first inning when Mossey led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Greg Plecki, and scored on Langlais' two-out single up the middle.

The Bison pulled within 3-2 in the third inning. Second baseman Ricky Hefflinger drew a leadoff walk and Mossey bunted for a single before Plecki put down another sac bunt to move the runners. Hefflinger scored on the next play, a Shannon Ekermans infield groundout.

NDSU scored its final run in the ninth when outfielder Luke Otto hit a leadoff double and scored on second baseman Matt Watson's sacrifice fly.

Plecki's two sacrifice bunts ran his career total to 18. He's two shy of the NDSU career record of 20 sacrifices set by second baseman Brandon Olson (2000-03).

Sophomore right-hander Jeff Kyllo (0-1) was the losing pitcher in his second collegiate start. Kyllo allowed five runs on two hits and walked five in two innings of work. NDSU reliever Matt Bowar struck out a career-high five batters in three innings of work.

North Dakota State begins a four-game home series with South Dakota State (24-15) on Friday. Game time is 6 p.m. at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo.