March 14, 2009
LOUISVILLE, KY — The Iowa baseball team fell to No. 25 Louisville at the rainy Jim Patterson Stadium Saturday, 7-2, after a rain delay. Iowa kept the dangerous Cardinal offense at bay the first five innings however Louisville took command of the game scoring three additional runs in the sixth.
The Cardinals (10-4) plated a run in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Louisville’s offense scored a run in the fourth and one in the fifth for a 3-0 ballgame. The Cardinals scored three in the sixth to take control of the game at 6-0 and added an insurance run in the eighth to finish the game with a 7-2 score. Louisville pre-season all-American, Justin Marks, kept Iowa off balance, racking up 11 strikeouts in seven innings for the win.
The Hawkeyes (2-8) got on the board in the top of the eighth for a 6-2 ballgame. Leadoff Kevin Hoef reached base on an infield error and was moved over to second on Justin Toole walk. With two-outs, Ryan Durant loaded the bases with a single through the right-side. Followed by a two-RBI single to center by T.J. Cataldo.
In the loss, T.J. Cataldo continued on to a four-game hit streak, going 2-for-4 with Iowa’s two RBI. Tyson Blaser, Ryan Durant, Justin Toole and Chett Zeise also recorded hits. Hawkeye relievers Jarred Hippen and Steve Turnbull threw well.
Iowa will take on the Cardinals again tomorrow. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (CDT)
GAME SUMMARY
Iowa 000 000 020 - 2 6 1
Louisville 010 113 01x - 7 12 3
WP - Brown (0-1)
LP - Marks (2-1)