May 21, 2005
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The University of Iowa baseball team split a doubleheader with Illinois Saturday at Illinois Field. The Hawkeyes (27-27, 18-13) fell in game one, 3-0 in seven innings, but battled back to take the second game 2-1.
Illinois starter Jimmy Conroy held Iowa scoreless in the first game, pitching seven complete innings and giving up only five hits. Hawkeye catcher Kris Welker led the way for Iowa, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Nate Price, Skylar Moss and Andy Lytle also collected hits for the Hawkeyes.
Casey O’Rourke went the distance for the Hawkeyes, pitching all six innings, but gave up three runs off seven hits. He also fanned seven batters and walked only one.
The Hawkeyes struck first in game two of the doubleheader, putting up one run in the second inning. Nate Yoho smacked a lead-off double to left field and came around to score on an RBI single up the middle off the bat of Jeff Engel.
The Fighting Illini tied the game in the fourth inning, but Yoho hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the sixth to give the Hawkeyes a 2-1 advantage. The solo shot to right-center was his team-leading seventh of the season and his second home run of the series.
Hawkeye starter Austin Seward pitched five and 1/3 innings of solid work, giving up only one run off six hits while striking out two. Tim Gudex came on in relief to pick up his sixth save of the season.
Iowa and Illinois will return to action tomorrow in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.