April 1, 2009
NORMAL, IL — The University of Iowa baseball team fell to Illinois State at Duffy Bass Field Wednesday night, 9-6. The Redbirds scored six in the second frame and never looked back, despite an Iowa rally in the eighth.
In the loss, Ryan Durant led the team going 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. T.J. Cataldo also went 3-for-4 with a double and a home run. Justin Toole and Kurtis Muller went 2-for-5. Toole continued his hit-streak to 12 games. Six Hawkeyes recorded a hit.
Iowa’s bullpen consisted of Michael Jacobs, Kevin Lee, Kyle Heim, Zach Kenyon and Mike Schurz. They combined to allow three runs on five hits in seven and one-third innings. Starter Zach Robertson got the loss, allowing six runs.
The Hawkeyes (10-13) jumped on top with a 1-0 score in the second with a Cataldo solo shot to lead off the inning. The homer put Iowa’s team total for the season at 22, already surpassing last season’s total of 21.
The Redbirds (12-7) scored six runs in the bottom of the second with two out to take a 6-1 lead. After the first two batsmen two struck out, Illinois State rallied, scattering four hits and drawing three walks.
The Iowa offense tried to lessen the Redbirds’ lead in the fifth, scoring two for a 6-3 score. Phil Keppler started the inning off with a double down the right field line and Durant drove him home with a homer to center field.
Illinois State added three in the bottom of the fifth to put the game out of reach at 9-3. The inning featured a Jake Thorton two-RBI single.
The Black and Gold got something going in the eighth scoring three for 9-6 score, but it was too little too late. Muller led off with a single to left field, Wes Freie got aboard after being hit by a pitch and Cataldo loaded the bases with a single to left center. Chett Zeise remained patient at the plate and picked up an RBI after drawing a walk. With one out, Durant continued to have a monster evening, driving in two runs on a single up the middle.
Iowa is slated to play Purdue in a three-game series at West Lafayette, IN Friday-Sunday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (CDT)
GAME SUMMARYIowa 010 020 030 - 6 12 1Illinois State 060 030 00x - 9 9 1
WP - Maines (5-1)LP - Robertson (2-1)SV - Sajewich (1)