WEST LAFAYETTE, IN — The Iowa baseball team lost the rubber match against Purdue at Lambert Field, 10-9, Saturday. In the loss, Iowa dropped its second Big Ten series of the year, 2-1. The Hawkeyes were down as many as nine runs in the game, but battled back in the eighth and ninth innings, plating seven on seven hits and taking advantage of three Purdue errors.
Down 10-8 and heading into the ninth, Iowa’s offense fizzled–leaving the tying run on board for the second straight game. The Hawkeyes plated one for a 10-9 final. Kevin Hoef started the inning off with a double. Hoef advanced to third on a double play and scored as T.J. Cataldo reached on an error.
“We need to find a way to win games like these,” Head Coach Jack Dahm said. “We put ourselves in the position to come out with a victory but didn’t get the big hit at the end we needed. It’s a frustrating loss, but it comes down to what our mental approach in the first seven innings and I was very disappointed with that aspect of our play.”
Purdue (13-12, 3-2) jumped in front in the first, scoring one to take a 1-0 lead. The inning featured a Dan Black solo shot. Boilermaker offense continued in the third, plating five on five hits for a 6-0 score. Purdue added three runs in the fourth featuring a Black RBI-single for a 9-0 game.
Iowa (13-12, 3-2) manufactured two in the sixth to cut the Boilermaker’s lead to seven with a 9-2 score. Dallas Burke led off with a single to right, followed by a Justin Toole double down the left field line to put runners at second and third. Burke scored on a groundout that advanced Toole to third. Toole scored on a fielder’s choice.
The Boilermakers’ final run crossed the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Going into the eighth, Purdue was winning 10-2. But that’s when Iowa’s offense woke up – scoring six runs on six hits to make it a 10-8 ballgame and force starter Matt Morgan out of the game. Burke led things off with a single to left field and Toole reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop. One batter later, Kurtis Muller singled to right to load the bases. Wes Freie took advantage and hit a three-RBI double to right center. Cataldo kept Iowa’s offense rolling, reaching on a hit-by-pitch. Andrew Ewing picked up a huge pinch-hit single to center to load the bases, and Freie scored on a fielding error on the center fielder. With runners on second and third, Cataldo scored on a wild pitch and Ewing advanced. With two-out, Nick Brown picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left center.
In the loss, ten Hawkeyes recorded hits. Burke led the team going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Cataldo went 2-for-4. Freie had three RBI to lead Iowa. Toole continued his hit-streak to 15 games and scored two runs.
The Hawkeyes are slated to take on Kansas in a midweek series, Tuesday and Wednesday at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYIowa 000 002 061 - 9 12 1Purdue 105 301 00x - 10 17 4
WP - Morgan (2-2)LP - Freie (3-4)SV - Straub (1)