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The Gophers scored seven runs in the first inning en route to a 12-10 victory over Northern Illinois on Wednesday at Siebert Field.

The biggest hits of the inning were two-run singles by Jordan Smith and Dan Motl.

Terrin Vavra hit a two-run homer for Minnesota (16-10) in the third inning and Ty McDevitt a solo shot in the sixth. Northern Illinois (7-21) made it close with three runs in the ninth.

"The coaches just challenged us to go out there and play hard in this cold weather even though it is not favorable to baseball," said Motl, the leadoff hitter who went 3-for-3, including two hits in the first. "We got our cuts in early, and that's what it came down to. We were aggressive early."

Vavra, a freshman from Menomonie, Wis., hit his first homer in college.

"It was pretty cool, definitely one of those moments I will never forget," he said. "Happy to get it out of the way."

New field for Oles

St. Olaf will break ground for the installation of a synthetic turf at Manitou Field next month, paid for by an anonymous gift of $800,000. The field will be ready for the Oles' first home football game on Sept. 10 against Luther College.

Five other MIAC schools already have synthetic turf fields.

Etc.

• Sean Donnelly of the Gophers was named the Big Ten field athlete of the week for the second time this season. He won the hammer throw with a toss of 228 feet, 7 inches in the Stanford Invitational. … Michigan's Mason Ferlic, a senior who attended Mounds Park Academy, was the conference's co-track athlete of the week. He won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Battle of the Blues hosted by Duke in 8 minutes, 33.95 seconds.

• Minnesota State Mankato's Dylan Margonari, a senior forward, signed an amateur tryout contract with Hershey of the American Hockey League.