Iowa Cubs Overpower Hawkeyes in Exhibition

April 4, 2006

DES MOINES – The University of Iowa baseball team got a taste of professional baseball Tuesday night with an exhibition contest at Principal Park against the Iowa Cubs, the AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The I-Cubs won the exhibition, 20-0.

The Hawkeyes faced the best pitching they will see all year at Principal Park. I-Cubs started with two of the Cubs top pitching prospects – Angel Guzman, the No. 4 prospect in the organization according to Baseball America, and Rich Hill, who saw action in ten games with Chicago last season. Both Guzman and Hill are candidates for an early season call-up when the Cubs need a fifth-starter.

Travis Sweet, Ben Geelan and Kevin Hoef each picked up hits off Guzman.

The I-Cubs posted three runs off four hits in the bottom of the first, then stretched their lead to 11-0 with a eight-run second. The AAA squad got three-run home runs from Casey McGee and Felix Pie – the Chicago Cubs top-prospect accord>ing to Baseball America.

Hawkeye freshman reliever Wes Freie held the I-Cubs scoreless in the third, but the professionals came back with five more in the fourth behind a three-run triple by Pie. Freie ended the inning by striking out former major leaguer Michael Restovich with the bases loaded.

The I-Cubs took over pitching duties for both teams in the seventh, allowing the Hawkeyes to rest their pitching staff.

The Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow at Illinois State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

GAME SUMMARYIOWA        000  000  000  --   0  4  3I-Cubs      380  510  03x  --  20 24  0