March 25, 2008
IOWA CITY, IA — The Iowa baseball team won its home opener Tuesday night over Western Illinois, 7-4, at Duane Banks Field. In the win, the Hawkeyes took advantage of four Leatherneck errors and strung together seven hits.
In the Hawkeye win, Kevin Hoef was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and scoring two Iowa runs. Kyle Riffel extended his hitting streak to eight games tonight, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs and Wes Freie continued to swing the bat well going 2-for-4. Kurtis Muller utilized the bunt in the Iowa win, laying down two sac bunts.
The Leathernecks struck first in the first inning, scoring one on a Kenny Price RBI single to the right side. However, Hoef started things off for the Hawkeyes, reaching on an error to second. He advanced to second on an error by the first baseman, and reached third on a wild pitch. Justin Toole hit a grounder to shortstop to score Hoef tying the contest 1-1.
Western Illinois (1-14) regained the lead in the top of the third, taking a 2-1 lead. The inning featured another Price single.
Iowa (7-8) Gold came back in the bottom of the inning. Hoef started things off for Iowa again in the third, reaching on his seventh hit-by-pitch of the season. Matt Mossey hit his team-high sixth double to plate Hoef to tie it up, 2-2.
Iowa kept at it in the fourth and Curry started it off with a leadoff double to right. Muller moved him to second with a sac bunt. Pinch hitter Ryan Gryzwa kept it going, reaching on an error by the shortstop and Riffel came up big with a sacrifice fly to right to score Curry, making it a 3-2 Iowa ballgame.
The Leathernecks struck back in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Kistner to even the game for the third time, 3-3.
The Black and Gold continued to swing with authority and took a two-run lead in the sixth. Muller started things off on a walk, and advanced to second on a throwing error by a pitcher. Ben Geelan kept things going with a walk and advanced to second on a Riffel fielder’s choice, Muller out at third. Freie singled up the middle to make the bases loaded. Hoef hit a two-RBI single to center, to score Geelan and Riffel, extending the Hawkeye lead to 5-3.
Iowa’s offense added two more runs to split the game wide open. Toole walked to start the Hawkeye offense, and stole second. Curry reached first on another walk to put runners on first and second. Muller laid his second sac bunt of the night down to advance Curry and Toole. Riffel took advantage of runners on second and third and hit a two-RBI single to center, to make it 7-3.
Iowa hosts Northern Illinois at Duane Banks field tomorrow. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYWestern Illinois 101 010 001 --- 4 9 4Iowa 101 102 20X --- 7 7 1
WP - Alberts (2-1)LP - Fuch (0-1)