MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Gonzaga Baseball plated seven runs in the seventh and eight frames to go up by three runs in the top of the eighth in its second game with Minnesota at U.S Bank Stadium on Wednesday, but a five-run response from the Gophers (3-15) in the bottom of the frame undid the Bulldogs' (3-12) work after the tying run was stranded in the final frame.

RHP Everett Swaim gave GU a shutdown start on the mound from a true freshman for the second game in a row after LHP Matthew Mueller struck out nine in a five-frame start yesterday, striking out a career-high eight in five scoreless frames with just two hits and one inherited run in the sixth. RHP Nate Weeldreyer (0.2 IP), Kai Francis (1.1 IP) and Payton Graham (1 IP) combined to throw the rest of the game, but were tagged for 12 hits and nine runs in that span as Minnesota's lineup asserted itself late.

Enzo Apodaca paced the Bulldogs' lineup with a 3-for-4 outing and a pair of RBI, stealing two bases in the process. Brock Bozett (2 H) and Hank Dunn (1 H) both scored a pair of runs, with Savier Pinales, Sam Canton (2 RBI), Brian Kalmer (2 RBI) and Connor Coballes all picking up one knock apiece.

The Zags return home this weekend to open West Coast Conference play against San Francisco March 17-19.

The Action
After four scoreless frames that saw only two hits between the two teams, GU finally broke the tie in the fifth, when Bozett singled through the left side and stole second on a popup from Johnsen. After Coballes drew a walk, Apodaca singled up the middle to bring Bozett across.

After a leadoff walk in the sixth, Weeldreyer took over for Swaim on the mound. The Gophers jumped on the righty for a triple and a double to plate a pair of runs and take their first lead before a bases-loaded single yielded two more to extend UM's lead to three. Francis took over from there, giving up another RBI single from Sam Hunt but generating a grounder for the final out to stop the bleeding.

With deuces wild in the seventh, GU loaded the bases off of three free passes – Dunn drew a walk and Coballes and Apodaca were hit by pitches. Kalmer drew a walk next to churn out a second run, and Eisenstat wore the third HBP of the inning to yield another and cut the deficit to two. After a pitching change, the Zags kept the rally going – Canton delivered a pinch-hit double to score two more before a liner from Pinales ended the inning with the ballgame once again tied. 

Despite singles from Boston Merila and Weber Neels, Francis calmed things down in the bottom of the frame, striking out Brady Counsell and inducing a flyout to get back on track with things still tied up.

Dunn and Bozett maintained pressure to lead off the eighth, hitting a double and single in succession before a wild pitch gave Dunn time to reach home for the go-ahead. Samperi and Coballes drew a pair of walks next to load the bases with nobody out, and Apodaca made good on the threat with a single to left field that put GU up two. A sac fly from Kalmer plated a third, but a strikeout from Marenco and a grounder from Canton stranded Coballes and Apodaca – who stole second – from reaching home.

After the Gophers cut the lead to one thanks to three hits and a fielder's choice knock that generated an error in the bottom of the frame, Graham entered the game with two on and nobody out. After a leadoff walk, a pair of RBI singles put UM up two before Graham could get the outs he needed. Bateman fouled out on a bunt that Kalmer collected, Apodaca snagged a popup and Graham picked up a K for the final out to move the Zags into the final frame with three outs to get back into the game.

Pinales connected on the Zags' second leadoff double in a row to give GU some life in the top of the ninth, and Bozett reached on a fielding error to push him to third, but Samperi fouled out and Coballes flew out to end the game with the tying run stranded.

Up Next / Follow the Game
The Zags return home this weekend to open West Coast Conference play against San Francisco March 17-19. RHP Owen Wild (22 IP, 4.91 ERA, 0-2, 27 K) is slated to start on the mound in Friday's series opener. Live stats and streaming options are available on GoZags.com — follow @ZagBaseball on Instagram and Twitter for live updates, highlights and more.