March 30, 2010
IOWA CITY, IA – Three late runs propelled South Dakota State to a 12-10 victory Tuesday night over the Iowa Hawkeyes at Duane Banks Field. The loss snapped the Hawkeyes’ four-straight winning streak. Both teams collected 16 hits in the contest. Iowa’s 16 hits tied for the second-most of the season.
Leading the Hawkeyes offensively was Mike McQuillan, Phil Keppler, Chett Zeise, Ryan Durant and Andrew Host. McQuillan registered his third three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-5 and two runs scored. Zeise also went 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored three times. Keppler and Host combined for a perfect 5-for-5 and four RBI. Durant had a home run, collected two RBI and scored a pair of runs.
“South Dakota State is one of the better team’s we’ve seen this year,” said Head Coach Jack Dahm. “They are a very talented and confident team. Offensively, I was happy with our approach, we did some good things. Phil [Keppler] is doing a good job. He’s coming up with big hit after big hit and coming up with some plays defensively, as well.”
The Hawkeyes put up the first two runs of the game in the first inning. With two outs, McQuillan singled up the middle, followed by a first-pitch swinging home run down the left field line by Durant to give Iowa the early 2-0 lead. The big fly is the second of the year by the Hawkeye clean-up hitter.
SDSU, who scored at least one run in all but two innings, countered the Hawkeyes, plating four runs in the second inning, all with two outs. Billy Stitz laced a two-RBI double to right center to make the score 2-2. One batter later, Eric Cain singled up the middle to score two more.
The Jackrabbits tallied another two-out run in the top of the third on a Beau Hanowski RBI-single to right to give them a 5-2 advantage. South Dakota State (11-6) collected another pair of runs in the fourth inning on a two-run RBI-double to left center by Jesse Sawyer.
Iowa (8-13) cut into the five-run deficit in the fourth with three runs crossing home plate. Host smacked an RBI single to right center and then Kurt Lee roped a two-run RBI-double to left to plate Zeise, who singled earlier in the inning, and Host to make the score 7-5.
The Hawkeyes posted three more runs in the fifth, to claim an 8-7 lead. Zeise singled to left field to score McQuillan, who opened the inning with a double. Keppler was then called upon to pinch hit and singled through the right side to plate Durant. Iowa’s final run of the frame was recorded via a Host sacrifice fly.
SDSU scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to reclaim a, 9-8 advantage. The Jackrabbits scored their seventh run on an RBI groundout and eighth tally on a pinch-hit leadoff homer to left field by Jeff Fish.
Keppler came through again in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, the sophomore perfectly placed a ball down the left field line that hit the chalk to send Zeise around the bases for the game-tying score.
Freshman Matt Dermody pitched three and a third innings and got a no-decision. The Hawkeye bullpen featured Ricky Sandquist, Jeff Pacha, Nick Brown and Michael Jacobs. Brown got the loss, as the sophomore allowed a two-out game-winning solo home run to left field off the bat of Zach Briggs in the top of the eighth. He also allowed two more runs in the ninth.
Trailing by three, Iowa attempted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Trevor Willis had a sacrifice fly to left to score Iowa’s 10th run. Lee was at the plate representing the tying run, but flew out to right field to end the game.
Iowa and South Dakota State will conclude their two-game series tomorrow night. First pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m. at Duane Banks Field.