April 13, 2010
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa baseball team defeated Milwaukee, 9-3, Tuesday evening at Duane Banks Field. The Hawkeyes plated three in the first and five in the eighth to notch their ninth win in the last 13 games. Iowa’s offense has now put up runs in the first inning five consecutive contests.
Seven Hawkeyes recorded a hit, three picked up a pair and three laced doubles. Zach McCool led Iowa, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored, three RBI and a double. Tyson Blaser went 2-for-3 with a sac bunt and RBI. Kurtis Muller had a pair of hits with two runs scored and a stolen base. Phil Keppler also collected two hits and an RBI.
“I thought Zach [Robertson] did a great for us tonight,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “It was too bad he didn’t get the win because he earned it. This was a good win for us, Milwaukee is a talented offensive team.”
Southpaw starter Zach Robertson held the Panthers scoreless, going a scheduled five innings, striking out three batters and walking none in a no-decision. The Hawkeye bullpen featured: Ricky Sandquist, Patrick Schatz and Zach Kenyon. Schatz picked up his fist victory, pitching two innings and allowing no runs on one hit.
Iowa (13-16) put up a three spot in the first to jump out to a 3-0 advantage. Muller led off with a single to center, stole second and was driven in on a McCool single up the middle. Mike McQuillan roped an RBI double down the left field line to score McCool. Durant followed up with a two-RBI double to left center.
Milwaukee (12-14) tied it up, 3-3, in the top of the sixth off Hawkeye reliever Sandquist. The inning featured three doubles, from Sam Sivilotti, Ben Long and Paul Hoenecke.
The Hawkeyes sent nine batters to the plate in the seventh, plating five to regain the lead, 8-3 and never look back. The inning featured a McCool two-RBI double, a Blaser RBI single, two walks and a hit by pitch.
Iowa added a ninth run in the bottom of the eighth on a Keppler bases loaded infield single to the shortstop, which scored Andrew Ewing. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases on a walk and two hit by pitches.
“I feel like tomorrow is one of the most important days of the year for us,” added Dahm. “We have a full day of practice. We need to prepare ourselves for a talented Indiana team this weekend.”
Iowa returns to action Friday in the first game of a three-game series at Indiana in Bloomington, IN. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (CST).