May 4, 2010
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – – The University of Iowa baseball team scored 13 runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 16-6 triumph over Coe College Tuesday night in the Corridor Classic played in front of 964 fans at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The 16 runs are the most by Iowa since its 19-11 season-opening victory over Illinois State in Clarkesville, TN.
Zach McCool, Mike McQuillan, Phil Keppler, Chett Zeise, Ryan Durant and Sean Flanagan paced the Hawkeyes offensively tonight. McCool and Durant both went a perfect 3-for-3, while Durant added three RBI and McCool two runs scored. McQuillan went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Keppler had a hit, walk, two RBI and two runs scored. Zeise collected a game-high four RBI on three hits, including a home run and sacrifice fly, while Flanagan had a hit, walk, two RBI and a run.
“We did a good job throughout the order swinging the bat,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “We’re starting to drive the ball more and that’s good to see.”
After retiring the first batter of the game, Iowa starter Matt Dermody allowed the next five Coe (21-15) hitters to reach base surrendering three first-inning runs on three hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. The inning featured a Ryan Velvick two-RBI single up the middle. Dermody, who earned his first career victory, settled down after the first inning, going five innings and scattering seven hits and allowing three runs.
Iowa (19-24) answered Coe’s three-spot in the bottom of the first with six runs. The Hawkeyes sent nine batters to the plate, tallying the six runs on three hits, three walks, two hit-by-pitches and an error. Five Hawkeyes registered an RBI in the inning. Coe starting pitcher Sean Raisch failed to record an out, as he was pulled after the first seven Hawkeyes reached safely.
The Hawkeyes padded their lead in the second with seven more runs on seven hits. The frame featured a two-RBI double by Keppler and a three-run blast by Zeise, his second home run of the season.
Iowa added single runs in the third, fifth and eighth innings by way of solo home runs. Ryan Durant laced his third home run of the year over the left field fence in the third, Trevor Willis powered his third homer to center field in the fifth, while Mike Corbeil smoked a big fly to right in the eighth. In total, Iowa clubbed four home runs to equal a season high (Illinois State on Feb. 20).
Iowa’s bullpen featured Zach Kenyon, Ricky Sandquist and Kevin Lee. Kenyon pitched the sixth, Sandquist threw the seventh and eighth, while tossed the ninth.
Ryan Velvick had a good night for the Kohawks, going 5-for-5 with two RBI.
Iowa returns to action this weekend when it travels to University Park, PA, to compete against Penn State in a three-game series. Game one is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. (CST) at Lubrano Park.