Box Score

The Patriots suffered their fourth loss of the season on Thursday night as they were defeated by the University of Minnesota Gophers, 9-2. With the loss, the Patriots fall to 12-4 on the season.

Starting pitcher Junior Chris McMullen was stuck with the loss moving to 3-1 on the year. McMullen pitched three and two thirds innings allowing five runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Junior Michael LaCourse added two and one third innings allowing only one run on two hits striking out three Gophers. Freshmen Ben Palmer and Ryan Behmanesh pitched the seventh allowing four unearned runs on three hits with three errors in the inning. Sophomore Josh Wilson added a scoreless eighth and then Junior Jeremy Parrish finished out the game with a two run ninth allowing one hit.

In the first inning, the Patriots took the early lead scoring one run as Junior Ryan Enos doubled to left field before advancing to third from a Junior Austin Knight SAC bunt. Enos was then knocked in by Junior Ryan Goins who hit an RBI single.

The Gophers managed three off McMullen in the top of the third to take the lead, 3-1.

The Patriots added another in the third as Junior Travis Meiners was pushed across by Knight after reaching on a single to left.

The Gophers were able to extend their lead putting up two runs in the fourth off McMullen, one in the sixth off LaCourse, four unearned in the seventh off Palmer and Behmanesh, and two more in the ninth off Parrish. The Gophers defeated the Patriots putting a stop to their seven game winning streak, 12-3.

The Patriots are back in action on Friday, March 20, as they look to avenge their loss against the University of Minnesota Gophers welcoming them back to Patriot Field for the second game of the three game series. The first pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.