March 13, 2010
AUSTIN, TX — The University of Iowa baseball team dropped the nightcap of a doubleheader to No. 3 Texas, 5-2, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Iowa’s offense struck early, recording a pair of runs in the first to lead, 2-0 ,but were held scoreless the remaining eight innings, leaving 13 runners on base.
The Black and Gold gave the Longhorns a scare in the top of the ninth. Mike McQuillan and Ryan Durant strung two hits together to put the tying run on, however, closer Chance Ruffin closed the door recording the final three outs.
Iowa out hit the Longhorns 10-7, six players recorded a hit. Durant had a hot bat, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and RBI. Kurtis Muller went 2-for-5 with a triple, run scored and stolen base and Phil Keppler went 2-for-3.
The Hawkeyes plated two in the first to take their only lead of the game, 2-0. Muller led off with a single later stole second and scored on a Durant single to left. Durant advanced to third on a Burke single and scored on a Keppler RBI groundout.
Texas (12-3) tallied one in the first, three in the second and one in the sixth to win, 5-2. In his first start of the season, Zach Kenyon had a rocky first few innings before settling down. The righty went five and two-third innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with a season-best six strikeouts. The Hawkeye bullpen featured Ricky Sandquist and Michael Jacobs.
The Hawkeyes (4-8) will conclude their four-game series at Texas Sunday. The finale is set for 1 p.m.