March 8, 2009
CLARKSVILLE, TN — The Iowa baseball team dropped its final game of three to Austin Peay at Raymond C. Hand Park, 20-9. The Governors scored eight runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to overcome the Hawkeyes. The game featured 29 hits, 14 of which were for extra bases.
The Hawkeyes (2-7) got on the board in the first, driving in two runs to take an early 2-0 lead. Leadoff hitter Kevin Hoef reached base on a hit-by-pitch. One batter later, Justin Toole hit into a fielder’s choice and advanced Hoef to third. With runners on the corners and one out Wes Freie hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. Toole later stole second and scored on a Ryan Durant double to right center.
The Black and Gold furthered their lead in the second; plating another two runs for a 4-0 lead. Tyson Blaser started the inning off reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, followed by a Chett Zeise RBI double. Zeise reached third on a balk and scored on a Kody McManis sacrifice fly.
Iowa’s offense kept producing runs in the fourth, adding another two to further its lead to 6-0. Zeise led things off with a single to third base and moved over to second on a McManis sacrifice bunt. Hoef continued to swing the bat well, for the third straight game, and hit a two-run homer.
Austin Peay (5-6) came back strong in the bottom of the inning, scoring eight runs on six hits to take an 8-6 lead.
The Hawkeyes tied it up in the top of the fifth, 8-8, after scoring two runs. Freie lead off the inning with a solo shot down the right field line. One out later T.J. Cataldo hit a solo homerun to center field.
The Governor offense kept battling for the lead in the bottom of the inning, plating five runs that ultimately were too much for Iowa to come back from. Austin Peay added an insurance run in the sixth for a 14-8 game.
Iowa scored its ninth and final run in the seventh to make the score 14-9. With one out Blaser singled through the right side. Zeise reached on a fielder’s choice and both runners advanced a base on an error. Andrew Ewing grounded out to first but picked up an RBI in doing so.
Austin Peay added three runs in both the seventh and eighth inning to make the final score 20-9.
In the slugfest, Hoef went 1-for-2 with a homerun and three hit-by-pitches. He now has 58 career hit-by-pitches and is averaging one per game this season to lead the Big Ten. Zeise went 3-for-4 with a double. Toole went 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base. Freie went 2-for-4 with a homer and a sacrifice fly. McManis had a sacrifice fly and bunt.
Iowa will travel to Louisville, KY to take on Louisville in a three-game series next weekend. First game is set for Saturday, March 14 at noon (CDT).
GAME SUMMARY
Iowa 220 220 200 - 9 12 4
Austin Peay 000 852 33x - 20 17 1
WP - Vicini (1-2)
LP - Erdman (0-2)