April 11, 2010
- K. Muller Blog
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 Season)
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa baseball team took its home Big Ten opening series from Illinois, winning a pitcher’s duel, 4-2, Sunday afternoon at Duane Banks Field. Iowa took the final two games of the three-game series to seal its first conference series win since 2008 against Indiana. The victory featured yet another strong pitching performance and defense from the Hawkeyes.
The win featured a stellar outing from sophomore Phil Schreiber. The sophomore went a career-long eight innings, allowing only three base runners his last six innings on the bump. Schreiber allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits with three strikeouts. Closer Kevin Lee picked up his conference-leading sixth save, silencing the Fighting Illini 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to preserve the victory.
“Phil [Schreiber] did an outstanding job and we made the plays defensively behind him, “said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “Phil did a great job attacking both sides of the plate. We played a good solid baseball game today. I thought we had a better offensive approach.”
Seven different Hawkeyes reached base in the win. Tyson Blaser, Phil Keppler, Zach McCool and Dan Sheppard all picked up a pair of hits. Both Keppler and McCool collected a double, RBI and run.
The Hawkeyes put up a three-spot in the first inning to lead, 3-0. Muller picked up a leadoff walk, his fifth of the series, and moved to second on a McCool single through the right side. Both runners advanced on a McQuillan walk. Durant drove in Muller on a fielder’s choice. McCool scored on a two-out Keppler RBI double. Keppler moved to third on a fielding error and scored on a Blaser infield single.
Illinois (13-13, 3-3) plated a pair in the top of the second to trail, 3-2. The inning featured a Thomas Shelton RBI double to left field and three Illini left on base.
Iowa (12-16, 3-3) added an insurance run to extend its lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Lee singled to third to lead off, advanced to second on a balk and third on a ground out. McCool came up swinging, lacing a RBI double to center.
“Zach [McCool] got the big hit for us to give us a two-run lead in the seventh and Kevin [Lee] did a great job closing the door in the ninth.”
The Hawkeyes will return to action Tuesday, hosting UW-Milwaukee in a non-conference game. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.
GAME SUMMARYILLINOIS 020 000 000 - 2 5 1IOWA 300 000 10X - 4 9 1
WP- Schreiber (3-3)LP- Zerrusen (2-2)SV - Lee (6)