April 24, 2009
Box Score | Box Score in PDF Form
IOWA CITY — The Iowa baseball team dropped a slugfest Friday night at Duane Banks Field to Michigan State, 15-10. Despite scoring runs in six innings and outhitting the Spartans 15-14, Michigan State’s offense pushed past the Hawkeyes.
Leading Iowa, offensively, was Kody McManis who went 3-for-5 with four RBI, doubling his season total of RBI. Kevin Hoef went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. Kurtis Muller went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Durant picked up a hit in the first, to extend his hit streak to 14 games. Eight Hawkeyes recorded a hit,
“Michigan State deserved to win the game,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “We were really beat up on the mound tonight. We battled back offensively, but were unable to overcome the big deficit. Unfortunately, we lost our composure in the sixth inning.”
Iowa (14-23, 3-9) got on the board in the first frame, taking its only lead of the game, 1-0, on a solo shot to left by Hoef.
Michigan State (14-23, 6-7) struck back in the top of the second, taking a 3-1 lead on a Jeff Holm three-run homer to right field. The Spartans never trailed after the first; plating one in the third, five in the fourth, three in the sixth and one in the eighth. Three Iowa errors in the sixth inning pushed the game out of reach for the Hawkeyes, despite an aggressive offense.
The Hawkeyes scored one run in the second, third and fourth innings to trail 4-3. In the fifth, the Hawkeye offense got going, scoring three for a 9-7 score. Durant led off with a single, followed by a Freie double to right center. Mike McQuillan came up big with a towering triple to right field to drive in two. Muller kept Iowa’s offense going with an RBI single down the left field line.
Iowa’s offense started a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth, however, the eight-run deficit proved to big and Iowa scored three to lose 15-10. Pinch hitter T.J. Cataldo drew a walk and two strikeouts later, McQuillan was hit by a pitch to get aboard. Muller took advantage and lined a RBI double to right field. Sean Flanagan drew a walk to load the bases and McManis came up big with a two-RBI double.
Hawkeye southpaw Jarred Hippen got the loss, going three and two-third innings and allowing eight runs. The Iowa bullpen featured Patrick Schatz, Steve Turnbull and Kevin Lee.
Iowa will play Michigan State again tomorrow at Duane Banks Field; the game will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network (HD). First pitch is slated for 2:36 p.m.
Game SummaryMichigan State 031 505 010 - 15 14 1Iowa 111 130 003 - 10 15 3
WP - Moody (5-4)LP - Hippen (2-3)