April 17, 2005
The University of Iowa baseball team missed its first series sweep since 1990 when they fell, 11-7, to Indiana Sunday at Banks Field. Iowa is now 14-16 on the year with a 8-4 record in the Big Ten, which puts them in third place. The 8-4 conference start is the best since 1990, when Iowa started 13-2 in Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes took an early 5-1 lead on two runs in the third, one in the fourth and another two in the fifth. In the bottom of the third, Justin Petty brought home Nate Price with an RBI groundout and Nate Yoho plated Andy Lytle with a sacrifice fly. Travis Sweet ripped an RBI single in the fourth, while Iowa’s two fifth-inning runs came on a Kris Welker double and a Jesse Brownell sacrifice fly.
In the top of the sixth, the Hoosiers were able to take advantage of a wild Iowa bullpen and post seven runs to take a 8-5 lead. After a leadoff single and a flyout to center, Iowa pitchers walked five-straight batters and gave up two doubles.
The Hawkeyes cut the lead to 8-7 with a pair of runs in the seventh, but Indiana came back in the top of the eighth with three runs off two hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly.
Austin Seward had a solid start for Iowa, scattering six hits over five and 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs while striking out and walking two. At the plate, freshman Dusty Napoleon was the only Hawkeye with multiple hits, going 2-4.
The Hawkeyes return to action Wednesday when they host North Dakota State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Banks Field.