April 21, 2009
DAVENPORT, IA — The Iowa Hawkeye baseball team cruised to a 20-7 triumph over Western Illinois tonight in front of 1,234 fans at Modern Woodmen Park. In the victory, the Hawkeyes pounded out 16 hits, nine of which were for extra bases. The 20 runs are the second-most by Iowa this season (25 vs. Tennessee-Martin). Iowa scored at least one run in six of its eight at-bats.
Six Hawkeyes recorded multiple RBI, while five had multiple hits en route to victory. Justin Toole went a perfect 4-for-4 with a season-high five RBI, three runs, a home run and a double. Ryan Durant extended his hitting streak to 12 games in the first inning and finished the contest 2-for-3 with two RBI, two doubles, three runs scored and a walk. Kevin Hoef went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a triple, a stolen base, scored a run and had six defensive assists. Sean Flanagan went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a double and an RBI. Wes Freie went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles. Mike McQuillan went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk.
“We played a real good game tonight,” said Head Coach Jack Dahm. “I thought Justin [Toole], Kevin [Hoef] and Wes [Freie] played good defense. Justin was just tremendous tonight. He’s a kid that gives you everything he’s got all the time.”
Iowa (13-22) jumped all over Western Illinois (8-22) early and often, plating a season-best nine first-inning runs off six hits. Iowa chased Western Illinois starter David Hill in the first inning. In fact, Hill didn’t even register an out through five batters. John Sneegas relieved Hill and didn’t fare much better. In total, Iowa’s first eight batters reached base in the first frame (four doubles, one single, two walks and a hit-by-pitch).
After the first three batters reached, Durant hit a two-run RBI double off the right center field fence to score Toole and Hoef. Freie followed with a two-RBI double to left center, scoring Nick Brown and Durant. Flanagan then hit an RBI double to left, scoring Freie. Trevor Willis then recorded a sacrifice fly to the shortstop, scoring McQuillan. The inning reached a climax with a Toole three-run home run to left, his second big fly of the season and third of his career.
Iowa kept at it in the second, scoring five more times. Durant led off with his second double of the game. Two batters later, McQuillan tagged Western Illinois’ third pitcher, Austin Brough, for a two-run homer to right. The home run is McQullian’s second of his rookie campaign. The inning also featured a Toole RBI single through the left side and a two-run triple to center by Hoef.
Iowa tallied another run in the fourth on Toole’s fifth RBI of the contest. Toole smashed his fourth hit of the game to left field, which scored Willis. Iowa added two more runs in the fifth on a Freie RBI double to left, scoring Durant, and a fielding error by the shortstop, scoring Freie.
Jeff Pacha collected his second and third RBI on the year on a two-RBI single to left, scoring Kody McManis and T.J. Cataldo in the bottom of the seventh, extending Iowa’s cushion to 19-1. Zach McCool scored Iowa’s 20th run in the bottom of the eighth on a fielding error by the left fielder.
Western Illinois scored six late runs, four of which were unearned, in the eighth on three hits and three Hawkeye errors.
Phil Schreiber earned the win tonight for the Black and Gold. Schreiber threw three innings, striking out two and allowed no runs. Also throwing tonight for Iowa were: Tony Manville, Nick Erdman, Kevin Lee and Zach Robertson. Robertson struck out the side on the top of the ninth.
The Iowa Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow night when they host the Northern Iowa Panthers at 6 p.m. at Duane Banks Field.
GAME SUMMARYWIU 000 010 060 -- 7 9 2IOWA 950 120 21X -- 20 16 4
WP - Schreiber (2-1)LP - Hill (1-2