IOWA CITY, IA — The Iowa baseball team dropped the final game of a two-game series to Kansas today at Duane Banks Field, 9-3. Kansas jumped to an early lead and never looked back, utilizing the short game to manufacture runs throughout the game.
In the loss, Nick Brown continued to shine at DH, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kevin Hoef and T.J. Cataldo also continued to swing the bat well, both going 2-for-4. Six Hawkeyes recorded a hit.
“We were sloppy on the mound today,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “We gave up too many free bases and they utilized them. On the offensive side, we need to find a way to manufacture runs when we are hitting balls at people. We hit balls hard all week and eventually they’ll find holes. “
Kansas (20-12) broke the board in the first to take an early 3-0 lead. The visitors took advantage of one Hawkeye error, and the inning featured a Zach Elgie two-RBI single.
Iowa (11-17) scored one in the bottom of the frame for a 3-1 game. Hoef, extended his hit streak to seven with a one-out double to center. Kurtis Muller reached on a hit-by-pitch, and Brown loaded the bases with a single to the pitcher. Cataldo did his job and put the ball in play to drive in a run.
The Black and Gold manufactured a run in the second, taking advantage of an early error and scoring an unearned run to trail, 3-2. Dallas Burke reached base on a throwing error by the Kansas shortstop to lead off the inning. He moved to second on groundout and over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Trevor Willis. Justin Toole then picked up an RBI with a single to center.
The visitors added an insurance run in the third, to further their lead, 4-2. Kansas picked up two singles, and scored one. Nick Erdman struck out two in the inning, and despite getting off to a rocky start, got out of the inning with runners on the corners.
The Hawkeyes closed to within one run, 4-3, in the bottom of the third. Brown singled up the middle to lead off for Iowa. Cataldo moved him to third on a single to right. With runners on the corners, Chett Zeise hit a sacrifice fly the other way to drive in Brown.
Kansas plated an additional run in the sixth to push their advantage to 5-3. The Jayhawks put the game out of reach in the later innings scoring two more in eighth and ninth. Kansas pitchers Brett Bollman and Lee Ridenhour silenced the Hawkeye bats, allowing only three hits the last six innings.
Starter Zach Robertson was charged with the loss, going two innings and allowing three runs. The Hawkeye bullpen featured Nick Erdman, Michael Jacobs, Kevin Lee and Sean Flanagan.
The Hawkeyes will host Indiana in game one of a three-game Big Ten series at Duane Banks Field Friday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYKansas 301 001 021 - 9 14 1Iowa 111 000 000 - 3 9 1
WP - Bollman (4-0)LP - Robertson (2-2)SV - Ridenhour (5)