Feb. 23, 2008
CLEARWATER, FL – – Notre Dame scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the 10th to lift the Irish to a 14-13 victory over the Iowa baseball team late Saturday night at Jack Russell Stadium. The game featured five lead changes. Both teams move to 1-1 after tonight’s contest.
Iowa senior transfer Matt Mossey’s delivered a two-out, two-RBI single in the top of the 10th inning to give the Black and Gold a 13-11 advantage heading into the bottom of the 10th. Mossey, who pitched the ninth and 10th innings, was unable to keep the Irish off the scoreboard in the bottom of the frame.
With one out, Notre Dame’s Evan Sharpley hit an RBI double down the left field line to trim the Iowa lead to 14-13. After the Irish loaded the bases, Mossey recorded a strikeout to pull within one out of the win. However, Notre Dame’s Brett Lilley singled up the middle to bring home his fourth and fifth RBIs of the contest for the game-winner.
With the game tied (11-11) through nine innings, Iowa rallied to score two runs in the top of the 10th. Senior Caleb Curry started the frame with his second double of the night. Classmate Ben Geelan then reached base after being hit by a pitch. Three batters later, Mossey delivered the game-winning single to center, scoring Curry and Geelan.
Mossey was charged with the loss, while Notre Dame’s Kyle Weiland collected the win.
Iowa scored 10 of its 13 runs with two outs and recorded six extra-base hits. Four Hawkeyes had multiple hit efforts tonight: Mossey and Curry, junior Justin Toole and freshman Kurtis Muller. Mossey went 3-for-5, with three RBIs and a walk. Toole went 2-for-6, with two RBIs and a pair of runs. Curry went 3-for-5, with three RBIs, two runs, two stolen bases and a walk. Muller reached base four times, going 2-for-3, walking twice and also scoring two runs. Both Mossey and Curry each had two doubles on the night.
The Hawkeyes plated two runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early 2-0 advantage. With two outs and runners at second and third, senior Kyle Riffel singled to center to score Toole and Curry.
The Irish tied the game (2-2) in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs on three hits. Notre Dame recorded a sacrifice fly and an RBI single. For the second-consecutive inning, junior right-hander pitcher Steve Turnbull left two runners on base.
Iowa reclaimed the lead (3-2) with another two-out RBI in the top of the fourth inning. Geelan led the inning off with a walk. Three batters later, Mossey doubled to center field, on a full count, scoring Geelan.
Notre Dame scored five runs in the bottom of the frame on four hits and a Hawkeye error to grab a 7-3 advantage. The Irish chased Hawkeye starter Turnbull, who threw three-plus innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out two.
Trailing by five (8-3), the Hawkeyes exploded for seven runs on four hits in the top of the sixth to reclaim a 10-8 lead. Curry led the inning off with a walk. Geelan then sent the first pitch over the left field fence for a two-run homerun to pull the Hawkeyes within three (8-5). The homerun was the first of the season for the Hawkeyes and the fifth of Geelan’s career. Iowa then scored five more runs with two outs. After Riffel and Mossey walked, Muller singled through the left side to score Riffel. Junior Kevin Hoef walked to load the bases. Then, Toole and Curry recorded back-to-back two-RBI hits. Toole doubled to score Muller and Mossey, while Curry singled, bringing home Toole and Hoef.
With Iowa leading 10-8 in the bottom of the seventh, Notre Dame’s Brett Lilley hit a one-out, three-run homerun over the right field fence off Hawkeye freshman reliever Tony Manville to put the Irish on top, 11-10.
The Hawkeyes tied the contest (11-11) in the top of the eighth without recording a hit. Iowa’s first two batters reached on walks. Two batters later, Muller crossed home plate after a fielding error by Notre Dame’s third baseman to even the game.
Iowa concludes the Notre Dame Tournament in less than 10 hours when it faces Liberty tomorrow at 9 a.m. (CST).
GAME SUMMARYIowa 200 107 010 2 - 13 12 3Notre Dame 002 510 300 3 - 14 13 1
WP - Weiland (1-0)LP - Mossey (1-0)