April 20, 2010
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa baseball team beat Western Illinois Tuesday evening, 6-5, in 10 innings at Duane Banks Field. The Hawkeyes scored in first frame for the ninth time in 10 contests and notched their fourth victory this season over the Leathernecks; the teams are set to face off once more in May.
In the bottom of the 10th, Phil Keppler came up with a leadoff double down the right field line. Kurt Lee then pinch ran for Keppler. Kurtis Muller earned an intentional pass and then Zach McCool laid down a perfect sacrificed to move advance the runners. Western Illinois reliever Chris Fuchs was in the process of giving Mike McQuillan an intentional pass until the second pitch glanced off the mitt of the catcher, which sent Lee home for the game-winner. It marked the second time in three years Iowa won a game on a pass ball during a pitch sequence of an intentional walk (Ohio State in 2008).
In the win, Zach McCool laced a pair of triples to tie an Iowa individual game record last done in 1999 by Brian Burks (vs. Saint Louis). He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Ryan Durant connected for his 11th double and his fifth sacrifice fly of the season; both team-bests. Mike McQuillan had a multi-hit day going 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored.
“It was a shame Western Illinois had to lose the game that way,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “We’ve had some tough losses, so we’ll take it. Now, we need be ready for Northern Illinois tomorrow night. I thought Matt [Dermody] did some good things out there tonight. Patrick [Schatz] also gave us some quality innings and has been pitching well as of late.”
Freshman Matt Dermody got his third starting nod and got a no decision. The southpaw went a career-long six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The Iowa bullpen featured: Michael Jacobs, Patrick Schatz and Kevin Lee. Entering the game with the winning run on first and one out, Schatz came up with a big pickoff at first and strikeout to keep the Iowa lead in the seventh. Lee pitched two innings to earn the victory, improving to 2-0 on the season.
Iowa (14-20) got going in the first, putting one to across to lead, 1-0. McCool laced a one-out triple to right center and scored on a Durant sacrifice fly.
The Hawkeyes furthered their lead in the third, plating four to further their lead, 5-0. With one out, Andrew Host drew a walk. Muller singled up the middle and both runners were driven in on a McCool triple to right center. McQuillan drove in McCool with a single to center and scored on a Durant double to left.
Western Illinois (9-24) scored three in the fourth to get on the board and trail, 5-3. The inning featured an RBI double off the bat of Chris Giglio and a two-RBI single from Rich Mascheri. The Leathernecks continued in the fifth scoring one on a Bryan Jordan solo shot to left to pull within one, 5-4. Western Illinois knotted it in the top of the ninth, 5-5, with a two-out RBI base hit up the middle by Dan Dispensa.
Iowa returns to action tomorrow night when it entertains Northern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at Duane Banks Field. GAME SUMMARY WIU 000 310 001 0 — 5 12 0 IOWA 104 000 000 1 — 6 8 1
WP – Lee (2-0) LP – Fuchs (0-3)