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April 19, 2006

Box Score

Minneapolis, Minn. -

Propelled by a five-hit, six-run fifth frame, the University of Northern Iowa baseball defeated Minnesota, 9-6, Wednesday afternoon at Siebert Field. 

Sophomore Brett Featherston (Epworth, Iowa/Western Dubuque) went 2-for-4, recording two doubles and four RBI.  Freshman Brandon Douglas (St. Charles, Iowa/I-35) was 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

Sophomore lefty Aaron Jenkins (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) started and worked four innings, striking out seven Golden Gophers. Freshman Zach Zirbel (Clear Lake, Iowa/Clear Lake) picked up his first win of the season, pitching one inning in relief.

First baseman Andy Hunter notched a two-out RBI single to center, plating Dan Lyons who reached on a fielders' choice to shortstop and giving Minnesota a 1-0 early lead in the first. Gopher center fielder Tijl Vanderwege robbed senior Clayton Daniels (Moulton, Iowa/Moulton-Udell) of an extra base hit in the top of the second, laying out for the catch as he sprinted into deep territory. 

Jenkins fanned the opening batter Mike Mee in the bottom of the inning and Mee stole twice to slide around the bases.  Mee then reached home on a ball hit to senior second baseman Mark Frieske (Spokane, Wash./Porterville C.C./North Central).

The Panthers were shut down a second time by the Gopher outfield in the fourth, as right fielder Sean Kommerstad snatched sophomore Brett Featherston's (Epworth, Iowa/Western Dubuque) ball as it went over the fence.

UNI could not be contained for yet another inning, though.  Junior Eric Hoffman (Erskine, Minn./Iowa Central/Win-E-Mac) nearly took out pitcher Tyler Oakes with a line drive up the middle to open the fifth inning and then Daniels walked. Sophomore Jason Smith (Sioux Falls, S.D./O'Gorman) reached second and Hoffmann scored on a misplayed bunt by the Gopher catcher.

Frieske reached first on a fielder's choice as Daniels was called out at home plate and senior Pat Moran (Rapid City, S.D./Stevens) was fanned. Smith and Frieske were escorted home as freshman Brandon Douglas (St. Charles, Iowa/I-35) sliced a single and the ball was bobbled by the left fielder. A two-RBI double to center field by Featherston, followed by an RBI-single by junior Nick Cameron (West Des Moines, Iowa/Indian Hills/Valley) gave UNI a 5-2 lead.  Sophomore Curt Bradley plated the Panthers' final run of the inning with a single to left field.

With Featherston's second double of the afternoon, he gave UNI a 7-2 advantage in the top of the sixth. Joe Maciej tallied his first triple of the season in the bottom of the frame, scoring Mee. Moran walked to open the eighth inning and Brandon Douglas reached on a bunt single.  On a double steal later in the inning, UNI took a 9-4 lead on a miffed throw.

The Gophers recorded two runs on four hits in the bottom of the ninth but their rally ran dry on a 4-6-3 Panthers double play.

UNI (17-19, 3-6) travels to Indiana State this week to face the Sycamores in a three-game set Friday-Sunday. All games will be broadcast live on SPORTSTALK 1330 AM and on www.unipanthers.com.

Game Notes:

 -- This marked the only game this season the Golden Gophers are scheduled to play at Siebert field as they host the majority of their games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

-- The Panthers and Gophers split on the season and UNI stands 1-4 against Big 10 opponents.