April 9, 2010
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa baseball team fell in late innings to Illinois, 9-8, in game one of a three-game series Friday evening at Duane Banks Field.
The Hawkeyes walked seven times, tying a season-high established against Illinois State. Ryan Durant and Phil Keppler each recorded two hits in the loss. Kurtis Muller walked three times, scored three runs and recorded a stolen base. Mike McQuillan recorded both a sacrifice fly and bunt.
“This was a disappointing loss,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “But, this is just one game in a three-game series. This is an important weekend for us to get in the mix. It was frustrating because we weren’t able to add to our lead and we had a number of mental mistakes that cost us tonight. We need to play better baseball. We’ll have Nick Brown going for us tomorrow and we expect him to throw a good game.”
Iowa (10-16, 1-3) plated one in the first to take a 1-0 lead. Muller led off with a walk, was moved to second on a Zach McCool sacrifice bunt and scored on a two-out RBI single off the bat of Durant.
Illinois (13-11, 3-1) took a 4-1 lead in the second frame. Josh Parr and Casey McMurray both came up with two-RBI hits. The Illini added an insurance run in the fourth, 5-3. Parr singled, stole second and scored the lone run.
The Hawkeyes charged back with two in the bottom of the second, 4-3. Both Trevor Willis and Muller reached on a walk, racked up a stolen base and scored. McCool picked up an RBI single.
Iowa exploded in the fourth with a five spot to take back the lead, 8-5. Iowa took advantage of three walks and a two-out, bases loaded Chett Zeise bases clearing three-RBI double to left. The frame also featured Kurt Lee’s eighth stolen base of the season and an RBI double from Durant.
Illinois plated a run the sixth and three in the eighth to rally and win, 9-8. McMurray led the Illini going 4-for-6 with a run scored, three RBI and a double. Three other players recorded multi-hit games for Illinois.
Starter Jarred Hippen went six for Iowa allowing six runs, five earned, off of 10 hits. He struck out seven in the no decision. Iowa’s bullpen featured: Michael Jacobs and Zach Kenyon. Jacobs chalked the loss, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits in one inning of work.
The Hawkeyes will host Illinois in game two tomorrow afternoon at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.