Minnesota Baseball Clinches at Least a Share of Big Ten Championship
Gophers secure 24th conference title in program history
ROSEMONT, Ill. – With its 4-0 victory over Rutgers on Thursday and Purdue’s victory over Michigan, Minnesota (36-13, 17-4 Big Ten) claimed at least a share of the Big Ten Championship. The Golden Gophers clinch their 24th conference title in program history and first since 2016.
Reggie Meyer set down the first 15 batters and finished his day with just three hits allowed in 8.0 innings while striking out five. No. 12 Minnesota scored in the third when Toby Hanson led off with a single, coming around to score on a single off the bat of Terrin Vavra. The Gophers then rallied for three runs on four, two-out hits in the fourth. Jordan Kozicky started it off with a double to left center, scoring on a single by Hanson. Luke Pettersen then added a single, and Ben Mezzenga doubled them both home.
Minnesota ends the regular season on Saturday in the series finale at Rutgers. The Gophers can claim the outright Big Ten Championship, and the top seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament, as early as Friday, needing a victory at Rutgers. The 2018 Big Ten Baseball Tournament will be held at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Neb., May 23-27.