April 15, 2006
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa baseball team split Saturday’s doubleheader with Minnesota, dropping game one 5-2 and winning game two 3-1. The Hawkeyes improve their record to 15-16 (5-6 Big Ten), while the Golden Gophers drop to 17-14 (5-6 Big Ten).
The Hawkeyes broke onto the scoreboard first in game one, when freshman third baseman Kevin Hoef delivered a clutch two-out RBI single with a poke into right.
The Golden Gophers took advantage of a Hawkeye throwing error to tie things up in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and second, first baseman Skyler Moss scooped up a ground ball and fired to second for an out, but the relay throw back to first went into the Iowa dugout, allowing Minnesota to walk home with the tying run.
Minnesota took a 4-1 lead in the sixth, getting three runs off three hits and another costly Hawkeye error. They added another run in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 5-1.
The Hawkeyes got a run in the seventh on an RBI groundout from L.J. Mims and put runners on second and third with two outs, but Iowa could manage no more and fell 5-2.
In game two, the Golden Gophers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second by putting runners on second and third, then getting a slow roller to short that scored Andy Hunter.
Iowa came right back in the bottom of the inning with a trio of runs to take a 3-1 lead. Hoef started the scoring with a sacrifice fly, followed by a run-scoring sacrifice bunt from Matt Wooldrik. Travis Sweet then gave the Hawkeyes their third run with a single up the middle.
Minnesota threatened in the top of the third by putting runners on second and third, but second baseman Justin Toole made an outstanding over the shoulder catch on a shallow pop-fly, then wheeled and threw a bullet to the plate to complete the double play.
Hawkeye closer Tim Gudex came in for the top of the seventh and sent the Gophers home with a 3-1 loss. It was Gudex’s fifth save of the season.
Iowa and Minnesota will wrap-up the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYGAME ONEMinnesota 000 013 1 -- 5 8 1IOWA 000 100 1 -- 2 7 3
WP - Dustin Brabender (3-4)LP - Jeff Maitland (4-1)SV - Andy Peters (4)
GAME TWOMinnesota 010 000 0 -- 1 6 2IOWA 030 000 0 -- 3 4 0
WP - Austin Seward (3-3)LP - John Gaub (0-2)SV - Tim Gudex (6)="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="http:>