April 14, 2004
IOWA CITY – Two four-run innings, including a four-run eighth led Northern Iowa to an 8-6 come from behind victory over the Hawkeyes at Duane Banks Field on Tuesday night.
Trailing by a run in the eighth, the Panthers got a clutch two out single by right fielder Armando Lara. Lara laced a full count pitch to centerfield off Iowa reliever Aaron Reasland to plate two runs and retake the lead from the Hawkeyes. Nate Trumm followed with a deep fly ball off the right centerfield wall to push in another run and make the score 8-6.
The Hawkeyes scored three runs in the fifth inning. Shortstop Jeff Gremley reached on an error to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kris Welker. After a Jesse Brownell walk, Nate Yoho teed off on Panther starter Eric DeJong with a three-run bomb over the left centerfield fence to put the Iowa on top 6-4.
Iowa jumped on DeJong early in the game as it built a 3-0 lead through the first three innings. With one out in the first, Welker and Brownell hit back-to-back singles. Yoho took first base on a fielder’s choice and Mike Best reached on catcher interference by Trumm. Hawkeye third baseman Luis Andrulonis followed with a bloop two RBI single to shallow right field to give Iowa the early advantage.
In the third, Brownell led off the inning with a triple off the centerfield wall and scored on Yoho’s sacrifice fly to centerfield to give the Hawkeyes the 3-0 lead.
Iowa starter Casey O’Rourke got into some trouble in the fourth after sailing through the first three frames. The freshman hit the first two batters he faced and the Panthers bats then made him pay. UNI got an RBI single from Dan Grant and Sean LaCoste reached on an error to chase O’Rourke out of the game. Designated hitter Ryan Fulton welcomed Iowa reliever Scott Brune with a two-RBI single to centerfield to put the Panthers on top, 4-3.
Brune had one of the better outings of his career. The redshirt freshman allowed one run on two hits and struck out three in 4 1/3 innings. Yoho went 1-for-3 with four RBIs and scored two runs.
The Hawkeyes will return to Big Ten play this weekend on the road for a four-game series against Indiana.