May 15, 2010
IOWA CITY, IA — The Iowa baseball team took game two of a three-game series against Ohio State, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Duane Banks Field. The win clinches a series win and is the fourth straight Big Ten win for Iowa.
The game featured solid defense for the Hawkeyes, and with the game knotted in the bottom of the eighth, is the second consecutive contest with a game-winning RBI in the eighth. Iowa has now defeated Ohio State in consecutive games for the first time since 2000 (the two teams did not compete in 2004 and 2005).
The Hawkeye offense was led by freshman Mike Corbeil. The lefty went 2-for-3 with a double, sacrifice fly and the game winning RBI. Tyson Blaser went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Ryan Durant went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Seven Hawkeyes registered a base hit.
“That was a fun game,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “It was a good solid win by our guys. It was encouraging to see us keep our composure even though we were trailing by three runs early. We kept battling and found ways to score, tie the game and ultimately score the game-winner in the eighth. We made some great defensive plays behind our pitchers today.”
Starter Nick Brown got the no decision after going a solid six and two-third innings for Iowa, allowing only three runs, two earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts. The bullpen featured Zach Robertson and Kevin Lee. Robertson, who won last night’s contest, picked up his team-best sixth win of the season, tossing one and one-third innings allowing no hits or runs. Lee earned his 10th save of the season, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth.
Ohio State (26-21, 9-11) got its first lead of the series, 1-0, plating one in the second frame. The inning featured a Tyler Engle two-out RBI single to center. The Buckeyes added two in the fourth for a 3-0 score.
Corbeil came up with a two-out RBI single down the left field line to put Iowa on the board, 3-1, in the bottom of the fourth.
The Hawkeyes (23-25, 10-10) knotted it, 3-3, in the bottom of the sixth. McQuillan led off with a single to left and Durant followed suite with a single through the left side. Both runners advanced on a Keppler sacrifice bunt and with two outs, Blaser delivered with a two-out, two RBI single through the right side.
With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, for the second consecutive game, Iowa pulled ahead, 4-3. Keppler led off with a triple in the right field gap and scored on a Corbeil sacrifice fly to center.
After picking up his team-best sixth assist from left field yesterday, gunning a Buckeye out at home, junior Trevor Willis made two outstanding catches on the warning track early in today’s contest.
The Hawkeyes look to sweep Ohio State in the finale of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at Duane Banks Field. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.