April 24, 2010
ANN ARBOR, MI–The Iowa baseball team dropped the finale of a three-game series, 7-5, to Michigan Saturday afternoon. Despite the loss, Iowa won the series having picked up two wins in the twinbill at Ray Fisher Stadium Friday. The game featured 26 hits between both teams.
Seven Hawkeyes registered hits in today’s game, including three multi-hit performances. Kurtis Muller went 3-for-5 with two RBI, a run and a double. Phil Keppler went 3-for-4 with a run scored and Zach McCool picked up a pair of singles.
Michigan (25-14, 7-5) struck first, plating one in both the second and third frames, to lead 2-0. Both runs were solo shot homeruns off the bats of Mike Dufek and Ryan LaMarre
Iowa (16-21, 5-7) got on the board, 2-1, in the fourth. Tyson Blaser reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a Mike Corbeil single. He scored on a Michigan throwing error on the play. Iowa knotted it, 2-2, in the fifth after scratching one across. Muller doubled to right center, advanced to third on a McCool single and scored on a groundout.
The Wolverines put up a four spot in the bottom of the fifth to take control, 6-2. The inning featured a Chris Berset RBI-double and Coley Crank two-RBI triple. Michigan put up one insurance run in the sixth for a 7-2 ballgame. The home team picked up eight extra base hits in today’s contest, including five doubles–two by Berset.
Iowa played catch-up in the sixth, scoring two for a 6-4 score. Keppler singled, Blaser walked and Kurt Lee wore one to load the bases. Muller picked up a big two out, two-RBI single. The Hawkeyes scored once more, in the eighth, with a Trevor Willis solo homer for a 7-5 final.
Starter Phil Schreiber got the loss after going five innings. He allowed six runs, two earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts. The bullpen featured: Patrick Schatz and Zach Robertson. In today’s loss, only three of the seven runs allowed by the Hawkeyes were earned. Robertson had a great outing going two and two-third innings and striking out five.
The Hawkeyes play host Tuesday to Nebraska at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.