May 7, 2005
IOWA CITY –
The University of Iowa baseball team swept a Saturday doubleheader against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Banks Field, 3-1 and 10-9. Iowa ups its record to 23-23 overall and 14-9 in the Big Ten. Minnesota falls to 24-22 and 13-10 in the conference. Iowa is now in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten.
Hawkeye closer Tim Gudex earned the victory in both games, upping his record to 9-3 on the year. He is 7-0 in Big Ten play, which is tops in the conference.
Like the first game of the series, game one on Saturday was a classic pitcher’s dual, with each starter working deep into the game. Jeff Maitland threw five strong innings for Iowa and allowed just five hits, while Minnesota counterpart Cole DeVries allowed six hits over six innings in taking the loss.
In the bottom of the fifth, Jeff Engel reached on a perfect drag bunt down the first base line and was replaced by pinch runner L.J. Mims, who promptly stole second. Andy Lytle ripped a single to center that plated Mims and gave Iowa a 1-0 lead.
The Gophers tied things up in the top of the sixth with a one-out RBI single off the bat of Andy Hunter, but Iowa came right back to re-take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Skyler Moss led off with a bunt single and Nate Yoho walked to give Iowa a pair of runners. A fielder’s choice by Dusty Napoleon put runners at the corners, and Andy Cox’s hit by pitch loaded the bases for pinch hitter Travis Sweet. The freshman came through, chopping an infield single to third that allowed Moss to score. Napoleon came around to score when Gopher third baseman David Hrncirik’s throw to first went into the dugout, giving Iowa the 3-1 lead.
Gudex, who entered the game in the top of the sixth, shut things down in the seventh to end the game and earn his eighth win of the season.
Game two was a wild one, with each team trading the lead seemingly every inning. Iowa ended up on top when Cox ripped a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give the Hawkeyes a 10-9 lead.
The Gophers came out firing, taking a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. The Hawkeyes chipped away in the bottom of the second, getting a run when Luis Andrulonis lined a single to center that brought home Kris Welker.
Minnesota got the run right back in the top of the third when Tony Leseman blasted a solo home run over the left field fence. Iowa landed a two-run counterpunch in the bottom of the inning, getting an RBI single from Yoho and a warning-track sacrifice fly by Cox to cut the lead to 4-3.
After the Gophers took a 6-3 lead in the top of the fourth, Iowa came storming back with three runs off four hits and a costly Minnesota error to tie things up. Minnesota responded in the fifth with their second solo home run of the game.
Iowa took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, getting a pair of runs without a hit. Iowa used a sacrifice fly from Napoleon and another costly Gopher error to take the 8-7 advantage. Once again the Gophers came back with a pair of runs to regain a 9-8 lead with a double off the top of the wall in centerfield and an RBI groundout.
The Hawkeyes will go for the series win against the Gophers Sunday at 1 p.m.
GAME SUMMARIESGame OneMinnesota 000 001 0 -- 1 7 1IOWA 000 012 x -- 3 6 0WP - Tim Gudex (8-3)LP - Cole DeVries (2-4)
Game TwoMinnesota 301 212 0 -- 9 12 3IOWA 012 322 x -- 10 11 0WP - Tim Gudex (9-3)LP - John Gaub (2-1)="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>