March 14, 2004
DELAND, FL – The Iowa baseball team lost a heartbreaker in the bottom of the ninth inning to Maine, 3-2, at Melching Field. The Hawkeyes and Black Bears were engaged in a pitching dual for much of the day, but Maine prevailed in their final at-bat to split the two-game series.
Maine won the game on a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game, 3-2. The Black Bears led off the inning with a single and a walk. After a Maine sacrifice, Iowa chose to intentionally walk Ryan McGraw to load the bases in hopes of getting a game-ending double play, but Greg Creek hit a double down the right field line to plate the game-winning runs.
Iowa’s Austin Seward had the best outing of his Iowa career, pitching six innings of five hit ball. The sophomore allowed one unearned run and struck out five Maine batters. Black Bear pitcher Steve Richard held the Hawkeyes hitless through 6 1/3 innings and struck out six batters.
In the bottom of the seventh, senior Chris Maliszewski replaced Seward with the score knotted at one apiece with nobody out and runners on first and second. After Maine sacrificed the runners, the southpaw struck out Ryan Quintal looking and then got a groundout to first base to get out of the inning
The Hawkeyes manufactured the go-ahead run in the top of the eight. Jeff Gremley doubled to left center with two outs and swiped third base. He scored when the ball got past Maine third baseman Matt McGraw on an arrant throw.
The Hawkeyes broke up the Maine no-hit bid in the top of the seventh inning on a single by Mike Best. Jesse Brownell reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Andy Cox. After moving to third on a fly ball to right center, Brownell crossed the plate on Best’s single to right.
Maine scored the first run of the game in the third inning. After getting Harvey to strike out looking, Black Bear leadoff hitter Ryan Quintal doubled down the left field line and later scored an unearned run.
The Hawkeyes will have an off day on Monday, before facing Stetson at Melching Field on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.