After fending off elimination with a 3-1 victory over Illinois on Friday afternoon, the fourth-seeded Gophers have to come right back and play third-seeded Nebraska in another Big Ten Tournament elimination game.
The Gophers will start lefthander Dalton Sawyer, a true freshman from Waconia, Minn.. He is 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA, but all 17 of his appearances have come in relief. Nebraska counters with senior righthander Ryan Hander.
The Gophers are 2-1 so far in the tournament, and Nebraska is 1-1. The winner of this game will play Saturday at 3:35 p.m., against either Indiana or Ohio State.
Nebraska went 2-1 against the Gophers at Siebert Field in mid-May, outscoring Minnesota in that series 17-4.
Don't let the Cornhuskers' 26-29 record fool you. Darin Erstad's team played a tough non-conference schedule with series against Cal State Fullerton, Texas, UC-Irvine, Arkansas and Oklahoma State.
GOPHERS (32-21)
1. Schaefbauer, 2B
2. Schlangen, RF
3. Henkemeyer, LF
4. Halloran, C
5. Olinger, 1B
6. Tatera, DH
7. Handel, SS
8. Abrahamson, 3B
9. Larson, CF
Starting pitcher: LH Sawyer (2-2, 3.09 ERA)
