April 5, 2008
IOWA CITY — The Iowa baseball team dropped the nightcap of a double header Saturday afternoon, 4-3, to Purdue at Duane Banks Field. In the Iowa loss, eight different Hawkeyes recorded at least one hit and scattered ten hits. In the one-run loss, Iowa falls to 1-6 in the Big Ten and 8-16 overall, while the Boilermakers improve to 5-2 in conference play and 12-14 on the season.
Kurtis Muller and Kevin Hoef hit well in the losing effort, both going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Justin Toole also swung the bat well for Iowa, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Caleb Curry recorded his 19th stolen base of the season.
“We played two tremendous games today and I expect the same tomorrow from our guys and Purdue’s,” Head Coach Jack Dahm said. “We had quite a few hits tonight and hit balls hard.”
Iowa, who never trailed in the first six innings, gave up one run in the seventh to lose. Iowa closer, Matt Mossey, entered the game with one out and runners on first and second. Jordan Comadena singled through left side to bring in the Purdue winning run. The Hawkeyes were silenced in the bottom of the seventh, by Boilermaker closer Josh Lindblom.
The Hawkeyes scored first, in the third to take an early lead, 2-0. Designated hitter Ryan Gryzwa recorded his first single of the season to lead off for the Black and Gold. One batter later, Kyle Riffel continued to hit the ball, singling to center to advance Gryzwa to third. Justin Toole picked up an RBI with a single center and advanced Riffel to second. Riffel moved to third on a double play attempt by third baseman Dan Black. With two outs and runners on first and third Muller stepped up to the plate and delivered with an RBI single through the left side. Purdue answered in the fourth with two runs to tie it up, 2-2. The inning featured a Drew Madia RBI single to left field.
Iowa kept at it the bottom of the inning, to break the tie and put the Hawkeyes ahead, 3-2. Mossey started it with a one-out single to center and advanced to second on a Gryzwa walk. Kevin Hoef took advantage of the runners with a RBI single to center.
The Boilermakers chipped away at Iowa’s lead in the sixth, to tie it at 3-3.
The Hawkeye pitching staff kept the Boilermakers at bay for most of the game, Tony Manville, in his third collegiate start, held the Boilermakers to two runs on four hits in three and two-third innings. In relief, Kyle Heim pitched two and two-third innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, getting the loss. Mossey allowed one hit in two-thirds of an inning.
“I call Sunday attitude day,” Dahm said. “We need to come back out here and be ready to play. If we come out and take care of business, we can split and that’s nothing to hold our head about”
Iowa will host the Boilermakers in the series finale tomorrow at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYPurdue 000 201 1 --- 4 8 1Iowa 002 100 0 --- 3 10 1
WP - Loomis (3-2)
LP - Heim (1-1)
SV - Lindblum (5)