Gophers’ season likely ends with Big Ten loss

Posted on May 25, 2013

The Gophers' run in the Big Ten tournament at Target Field ended Friday with a 7-4 loss to Nebraska. The defeat also likely ends the Gophers' season.

Minnesota went 2-2 at the Big Ten tournament, beating Illinois on Wednesday and Friday. But it scored only 12 runs in four games and didn't pitch its best when it needed to.

Freshman starter Dalton Sawyer allowed six runs in 3.2 innings against the Huskers, including a three-run home run to Pat Kelly. The Gophers answered in the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Matt Halloran, but they didn't score after that.

The Gophers have scored four or fewer runs in 12 consecutive games. The offensive struggles nearly caused them to miss the Big Ten tournament at the end of the regular season.

The Gophers needed to win the tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Their RPI and strength of schedule is likely too weak to earn an at-large bid.