April 7, 2004
DES MOINES, IA – The I-Cubs used a pair of two-run homers to come from behind and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes, 4-2, in an exhibition game at Sec Taylor Stadium Wednesday night.
Iowa’s first hit of the game put the Hawkeyes up 1-0 in the third inning. Jeff Gremley lined an RBI single up the middle to knock in Mike Best. Best led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on soft groundout by designated hitter Justin Petty. Andy Lytle moved Best to third and reached on an error by I-Cubs first baseman Donny Leon.
Three Iowa pitchers combined to shutout and limit the I-Cubs to two hits over the first four innings. Starter Austin Seward and Ryan Dupic each allowed a hit in one inning of work. In addition, Seward struck out I-Cubs slugger David Kelton swinging in the first.
The Hawkeyes held the I-Cubs in check until the fifth inning. Leon hit a towering two-run shot down the right field line over the foul pole. The homerun was called fair by the home plate umpire despite the disapproval from the Hawkeye faithful in the crowd.
Designated hitter Russ Johnson hit a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning off of Iowa reliever Kevin Sunderman to give the I-Cubs some breathing room.
Iowa scored its second run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Jeff Engel had an infield single and scored all the way from first base on a Cole Grandfield RBI double down the third base line. Matt Wooldrik followed with a single up the middle for the Hawkeyes’ third hit of the inning to bring up Andy Lytle representing the go-ahead run. Lytle flied out to right center field to end the seven inning contest.
Iowa will return to action for its Big Ten home opener against Michigan on Friday at Duane Banks Field beginning at 6 p.m.