March 21, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA — The Iowa baseball team won the first of two games to Western Illinois at Duane Banks Field, 9-4. In the win, head coach Jack Dahm surpassed Dick Schultz as the third-most victorious Iowa baseball coach with a 130-162 record as a Hawkeye. Otto Vogel is at second with 440 wins.
Iowa (6-9) got on the board in the first to take an early 1-0 lead. With one out, Chett Zeise doubled to left center and was hit in by a Kurtis Muller single up the middle.
The Hawkeye offense got on a roll in the second, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring five runs for a 6-0 lead. Kevin Hoef smashed a triple through the right center gap to start things off. To put runners on the corners Ryan Durant hit an infield single to the third baseman. Tyson Blaser took advantage of Hoef on third and hit a bloop single to left field to pick up an RBI. Andrew Ewing moved the Hawkeye runners over with a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Justin Toole loaded the bases with a walk and Zeise picked up two RBI with a single to left field, he moved to second on the throw and third on an error, Toole scored. Muller picked up his second RBI of the day with a single through the right side.
Western Illinois (2-9) scored four on three hits to cut down Iowa’s lead to 6-4.
The Hawkeyes added three insurance runs isn the eighth to seal the win with a 9-4 score. Leading off the inning, Mike McQuillan singled through the right side to lead off and later stole second. Toole got on base with a walk and two outs later Phil Keppler drew a walk to load the bases. Cataldo smashed a gapper to left center for a three-RBI double.
Nick Brown received his first collegiate win having pitched six and one-third innings allowing five Leatherneck hits. Steve Turnbull picked up his first save of the year, going two and two-third innings and striking out six.
Muller had two RBI and Cataldo had three RBI to lead Iowa. Durant and Blaser went 2-for-4 on the day.
Iowa will take on Western Illinois today in game two of its doubleheader; first pitch will be at 4:05 p.m. (CDT)
GAME SUMMARY
Western Illinois 000 000 400 - 4 7 1
Iowa 150 000 03x - 9 17 2
WP - Brown (1-1)
LP - Brough (0-3)
SV - Turnbull (1)