March 18, 2009
MARTIN, TN — The Iowa baseball team came out victorious against Tennessee-Martin at Skyhawk Field Wednesday, 25-6. In the win, Iowa’s bats came alive recording 25 hits, two from the school record (27 in 1986). Five Hawkeyes recorded home runs and nine had multi-hit games. This was the highest scoring Iowa game since 1989 (W, 32-0 vs. Quincy College).
Iowa’s offense got hot from the start, sending eight batters to the plate in the first. The Black and Gold took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on three hits and taking advantage of two walks and an error. Justin Toole started things off walk and later stole second. Mike McQuillan hit a single through the left side to advance Toole to third, and later stole second. One out later, Wes Freie reached second on an infield error and two runs scored. With two outs, Kevin Hoef singled to right center to pick up an RBI. Ryan Durant smashed a ball off the center field wall for an RBI double.
The Hawkeyes continued to swing the bat with authority adding four more runs in the second to lead, 8-1. With one out, Toole crushed a ball to right center for a double; followed by a McQuillan walk. McQuillan was later thrown out in a double steal. Muller was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Freie crushed a ball to dead center for a three-run homer. T.J. Cataldo came up next and hit a solo shot to right field.
The Black and Gold sent 12 batters to the box in the third inning, plating eight runs on seven hits to extend their lead to 16-1. Phil Keppler led off with a single, followed by a Dallas Burke single through the right side to put runners on first and second. Toole hit his second career home run to left field. McQuillan then reached base on a single through the right side. Freie doubled to left to put runners on second and third. After a Cataldo walk, Hoef doubled to left center to bring in two runs. Durant smashed a ball over the right field to score three more.
Tennessee-Martin attempted to play catch-up in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on five hits for an 18-4 score.
Iowa padded its lead with two more runs in the fourth to make it 18-1 and continued to cross the plate in the eighth with six more for a 24-4 advantage. The Hawkeyes added one final run in the in the top of the ninth for a 25-4 ballgame. The Skyhawks managed to score two in the bottom of the ninth to make the score, 25-6.
Three Hawkeyes pitched today, Zach Robertson, Nick Erdman and Sean Flanagan. In his first start as a Hawkeye, Robertson tossed five innings to earn the win. Erdman and Flanagan threw the final four innings in relief.
Hawkeyes who posted multiple hits today include: McQuillan, Keppler, Freie, Cataldo, Durant, Hoef, Toole, Andrew Ewing and Dallas Burke. Freie, Hoef and Durant each collected four RBI, while Toole had three today.
Iowa will take on Austin Peay tomorrow before traveling back to Iowa City. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (CDT).
GAME SUMMARY
Iowa 448 200 061 - 25 25 1
Tennessee- Martin 100 030 002 - 6 16 2
WP - Robertson (1-0)LP - Bowker (1-1)