Baseball Falls in Series Opener to Minnesota

Friday, March 6

Minneapolis, MN

5:30 PM

University of Utah

4-7

Minnesota

6-8

Utah

Minnesota Gophers

3/6/2020 9:47 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

Kiernan has 3 RBI Double in Eighth

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Utah baseball team dropped its opening game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers 6-4 at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday.

Utah rallied late to get within one in the eighth inning and then scored one more run in the ninth, but Minnesota held on in the end.

Jayden Kiernan had a big night at the plate going 2-4 and had three RBI in the eighth inning with a double.

Facing a potential first round pick in the MLB draft, Utah got going in the eighth inning scoring three runs on three hits with Kiernan having the big three-run double. Rykker Tom got the inning going with single and then advanced to second on an error. After a Christopher Rowan, Jr. walk, Chase Fernlund hit a single to advance Tom and Rowan to load the bases. Then with two outs, Kiernan doubled to left center to clear the bases and get Utah within one run.

After the Golden Gophers got a couple of insurance runs, the Utes Vinny Zavolta hit a solo home run to cut the lead to two, but Minnesota held on from there to take the series opener 6-4.

Justin Kelly started for the Utes and went 6.0 innings and gave up two earned runs on nine hits. Sean Bolin and Zac McCleve made appearances to finish the game.

Zavolta hit his second home run this season. Shea Kramer also had a double in the game.

The Utes and Golden Gophers will play the second game of the season on Saturday, March 6 at 5:00 p.m. MT.