May 16, 2007
MACOMB, IL – Wednesday’s non-conference game at Western Illinois started off as a pitcher’s dual and ended up a 9-2 blowout loss for the University of Iowa baseball team. The Hawkeyes fall to 30-18, whil Western Illinois ups its record to 31-20.
For the first five innings, Hawkeye starter Chase Stephens and Leatherneck hurler Mark DiBernardo took turns posting zeros on the scoreboard. Western Illinois was first to crack the scoreboard, getting a two-run double from Dan Johnson to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth.
Iowa finally solved DiBernardo in the seventh, using a sacrifice fly from Tyson Blaser and an RBI single off the bat of Kevin Hoef to tie the game.
Kyle Heim, who replaced Stephens in the sixth, threw a pair of scoreless innings until the Leathernecks refused to go away in the eighth, scoring seven runs with two outs. The Hawkeyes used four pitchers in the inning, and only Joe Singer was able to stop the bleeding and get the final out. By then, it was too late, as Western Illinois had blown the game open with a 9-2 lead.
Iowa went 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to end the game.
Stephens ended up allowing just two runs on three hits over five innings of work. He struck out four. On offense, Kyle Riffel was the only Hawkeye with multiple hits, going 2-of-4 with a run scored.
Iowa returns to action Friday night when they open their four-game, season-finale series with Big Ten-leading Michigan. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYIowa 000 000 200 -- 2 6 1WIU 000 020 07x -- 9 11 1
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