April 14, 2007
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The University of Iowa Hawkeyes gave up a six-run lead against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday, losing 9-8 on a bases-loaded, walk-off single. Iowa falls to 13-11 (3-5) while Minnesota ups its record to 19-6 (3-1).
The Hawkeyes tried to hold off a charging Minnesota club, taking an 8-7 lead into the bottom of the ninth with closer Mike Schurz on the mound. Kyle Baran led off with a single, then Schurz hit Jeremy Chlan while he was attempting a sacrifice bunt to put the winning run on base. Schurz got the next hitter to ground out, but both runners advanced, and he was forced to intentionally walk pinch hitter Taylor VanderAarde to set up a potential game-ending double play. It wasn’t to be, however, as No. 9 hitter Tijl Vanderwege ended the game with his fourth hit of the game, bringing the tying and winning runs home.
“We gave them some momentum and they took it,” Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm said. “My hat is off to Minnesota. They did a good job of getting the momentum and kept coming. We gave up eight runs in the late innings, and that is unacceptable. We gave them a lot of opportunities by not making plays defensively, and it cost us. You’ve got to play every pitch in this league.”
Iowa jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first. Jason White led off with a single, then stole his way to third before coming home on a fielder’s choice. Dusty Napoleon, who reached on a walk, also scored on the play when the second baseman threw the ball away.
Minnesota added a run on an RBI single in the bottom of the second, but the Hawkeyes responded with two more in the third on back-to-back RBIs from Caleb Curry and Kevin Hoef. Iowa stretched its lead to 7-1 in the sixth before the Golden Gophers began chipping away at the lead. Minnesota got one in the sixth, one in the seventh and four in the eighth to set up its ninth-inning heroics.
Steve Turnbull started for Iowa and pitched well, scattering eight hits and allowing just two runs in five and 1/3 innings.
On offense, White was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Hoef was 1-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.
The two teams will play a doubleheader tomorrow, with game one scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYIowa 202 102 010 -- 8 10 1Minnesota 010 001 140 -- 9 17 3
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