Feb. 24, 2006
CLARKSVILLE, TN – The University of Iowa baseball team kicked off the 2006 season in style, defeating 2005 NCAA Tournament team Austin Peay 12-10 in the first game of the Austin Peay Tournament Friday afternoon. Iowa is 1-0 while Austin Peay falls to 2-1.
Trailing 10-7 in the ninth, the Hawkeyes scored five runs in the final inning. Brian Burmester led off with a pinch hit single, and Iowa loaded the bases when Ryan Considine and Jason White were hit by pitch. Senior Nate Price then brought Burmester home with an RBI groundout and stole second. Junior Matt Wooldrik then walked and Travis Sweet tied the game up with a single to right. With runners at first and third, Dusty Napoleon smacked a ground ball to second, which was booted and allowed Wooldrik to score the go-ahead run. Iowa picked up an insurance run with a double steal involving Sweet and Napoleon.
All-Big Ten closer Tim Gudex then came in and struck out the side to get his first save of the year. Freshman Steve Turnbull picked up the win in relief.
Wooldrik (3-of-4), Sweet (3-of-5) and freshman Wes Freie (3-of-4) each had three hits for Iowa.
The Hawkeyes struck first, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Price opened the 2006 season with a base hit to left, then promptly stole second. Wooldrik scored Price with a base hit up the middle, then advanced to second on a bunt single from Sweet. A balk moved Wooldrik and Sweet to second and third, and they scored on a two-run single from Napoleon.
Austin Peay knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third on a pair of dobules and a Hawkeye error. Iowa came back to take a 5-3 lead the following inning on an RBI single from Wooldrik and an RBI double from Sweet.
Governor designated hitter Will Hogue led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run off Hawkeye starter Jeff Maitland. Austin Peay loaded the bases, forcing the Hawkeyes to make a pitching change. Luke O’Loughlin, who is coming out of the bullpen while recovering from offseaosn back surgery, replaced Maitland and struggled with control initially. Two wild pitches, two walks and a sacrifice fly gave the Governors a 7-5 lead. After Austin Peay added a run in the bottom of the sixth, Iowa got RBIs from Freie and White to bring the score to 8-7. The Governors came right back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to take a three-run lead.
The Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow with a 10 a.m. game against Illinois State.
GAME SUMMARYIOWA 300 200 205 -- 12 16 4Austin Peay 003 401 200 -- 10 11 2
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