Three players hit two-run homers as the Gophers outscored visiting Kansas 12-7 on Wednesday in nonconference baseball.
Austin Athmann hit a two-run shot in the opening inning for Minnesota (29-13) to cut the Jayhawks' lead to 3-2. It was his team-high 11th homer. Connor Schaefbauer had a two-run homer in the Gophers' seven-run second, which tied a season high for runs in an inning.
Matt Fiedler had the third two-run homer, in the sixth, putting the Gophers ahead 11-7. Fiedler was 4-for-6 — his batting average rose from .396 to .406 — with three RBI and three runs scored.
This weekend the Gophers (11-3 Big Ten) will play Indiana (26-16, 11-4) for first place in the conference in a three-game series starting 6:30 p.m. Friday at Siebert Field.
Etc.
• Haitian goalkeeper Steward Ceus, who was training with Minnesota United FC this spring, signed with the Loons. The 6-6 Ceus started for the Atlanta Silverbacks last year.
• Michigan's Mason Ferlic, a senior from Mounds Park Academy, was the first collegian to finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Payton Jordan Invitational in 8 minutes, 28.77 seconds, qualifying him for the U.S. Olympic trials.
• Micaela Trainor, a St. Thomas senior third baseman, was named the Division III national player of the week by the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association. She led the Tommies to a 6-0 record last week by hitting .565 (13-for-23) with three homers and 14 RBI. She is a native of Winona, Minn.
• Matt Fletcher was named men's basketball coach at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato. He was the associate head coach at Upper Iowa the past three seasons.
• Augustana of Sioux Falls, S.D., won the NCAA Division II Super Region 3 in Axtell, Neb., by one shot over Northeastern State, which trailed by eight shots after two rounds. Three Vikings golfers finished in the top six: Kali Trautman tied for first at 217, Marisa Toivonen of Red Wing and Sierra Langlie of Andover tied for sixth at 221.
