Gophers

Minnesota Scene: Mendez, Gophers golf team both in first at Big Ten meet

May 4, 2014 at 5:53AM

Mendez (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Gophers men's golf team, led by freshman Jose Mendez, held a seven-stroke lead after 54 holes Saturday in the Big Ten championship meet in French Lick, Ind.

Mendez is the individual leader after firing a 1-over 73 in the third round for a 216 total. He is three shots ahead of Charlie Danielson of Illinois and five ahead of Jack Perry of Northwestern.

Jon Trasamar of the Gophers is tied for sixth (74-224), Jon DuToit is tied for 12th (76-226) and Alex Gaugert (76-230) for 24th.

Minnesota, which took second in the conference tournament last year, has an 896 team score. Illinois and Purdue are tied for second at 903 going into Sunday's final round.

"Day 3 was one of the most treacherous days on the golf course I have witnessed in four years of coaching," Gophers coach John Carlson said. "We handled the conditions very well on our finishing nine holes. … These are exciting times for Gopher golf and all golf fans in the state of Minnesota."

FSU sweeps Gophers

Florida State, rated No. 4 by USA Today/ESPN, scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to edge the Gophers 5-4 in the first game of a baseball doubleheader in Tallahassee. They also won the second game 3-2.

In the opener, the Seminoles (35-11) scored the tying and winning runs off reliever Dalton Sawyer on a hit batter and two singles.

Minnesota (22-18) had scored three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 4-3 lead on a fielder's choice and Tony Skjefte's two-run double.

In the second game, the Gophers had runners on first and third base in the top of the ninth after Bobby Juan doubled and Austin Athmann singled, but the next two batters struck out looking.

Ben Meyer pitched the first seven innings for Minnesota and held the Seminoles to two earned runs on six hits.

U softball bats awaken

A day after being shut out for the first time this season, the Gophers routed Purdue 9-1 in five innings Saturday in Big Ten softball in West Lafayette, Ind.

No. 12 Minnesota (37-9, 15-5) scored seven runs in the fourth inning. Tyler Walker had a three-run triple in the inning and Taylor LeMay a three-run homer.

Sara Moulton pitched a five-hitter for the victory.

Etc.

• The Gophers won five events at Iowa's Musco Invitational track and field meet. Zach Siegmeier took first in the men's pole vault, clearing 18 feet, 1 inch. In women's events, Megan Geyen won the 400 (54.32), Maggie Bollig the 1,500 (4:30.42), Katie Loberg the high jump (5-7) and Nicole Murphy the javelin (153-6). … Gophers sophomore Becci Osterdyk won the shot put at the Meet of the Unsaintly at Hamline University. She threw 46 feet, 2¾ inches.

• St. Thomas won its 11th consecutive MIAC playoffs title by beating Bethel 7-2 in the championship game at Macalester. Brenna Walek's three-run homer in the first inning gave the Tommies an early lead. Angie Jackson homered for the Royals.

• Winona State beat Augustana 3-1 in Sioux Falls, S.D., in the championship game of the NSIC softball tournament. Second baseman Jenny Nelson hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Warriors the lead.

• Carleton won its third MIAC women's tennis title with a 5-3 victory over Gustavus in Northfield, Minn. The top-seeded Knights (18-2) won on two three-set victories in singles by Anne Lombardi and Mikayla Becich.