MINNEAPOLIS – The Gopher Baseball team suffered a pair of setbacks with their ace leaving in the first inning before Maryland began the Big Ten Conference series with a 7-3 victory at Siebert Field on Friday night.

Max Meyer exited the game in the first with an apparent leg injury after running over a bat trying to cover home plate during a sacrifice fly by Maryland (24-25, 9-10 Big Ten) in the first. The Terrapins added a run in the third, the first allowed by left-hander Nick Lackney (2-4) at home this season.

Minnesota (22-24, 11-8 Big Ten) answered in the bottom of the inning against Hunter Parsons (9-3) with a double from Drew Hmielewski RBIs from Riley Smith and Zack Raabe. Maryland regained the lead in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of an error on the Gopher infield and chasing Lackney after 3.0 innings, allowing four runs but just one earned.

Eduardo Estrada Jr. came in to score on a grounder off the bat of Jack Wassel in the bottom of the sixth to trim the lead to 5-3, but the Terrapins added to the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh against reliever Jake Stevenson. On the other side of the ledger, Parsons struck out seven batters in 7.0 innings of work, allowing three earned on five hits.

Nolan Burchill tossed the final 2.1 innings for Minnesota, scattering three hits while striking out five batters.

Up next

The two teams continue their series on Saturday as Minnesota hosts Rob Fornasiere Night at Siebert Field. The former assistant head coach will be honored and the giveaway will be a jersey koozie featuring his iconic no. 12. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. airing live on BTN.

Content courtesy of

the University of Minnesota

Athletic Communications