May 18, 2010
DAVENPORT, IA – – Iowa scored five runs in the fifth inning and never looked back en route to an 8-0 triumph over St. Ambrose Tuesday night in front of 1,321 fans at Modern Woodmen Park. The game was played at a rapid pace, finishing in only 2:11.
Tonight marked Iowa’s fifth victory in six games. The win improves Iowa’s record to 24-26, while St. Ambrose drops to 18-30.
Leading the Hawkeyes offensively was Trevor Willis, Zach McCool, Kurtis Muller and Kurt Lee. Willis had a pair of bunt singles and two runs scored. Lee had a game-best three singles and an RBI, while McCool collected two hits and an RBI. Muller had one hit, three RBI and scored a run.
Iowa’s three pitchers combined for a two-hitter and its first shutout of the season. Hawkeye starter Matt Dermody earned his second victory throwing five scoreless innings. The freshman struck out five Fighting Bees, while only allowing one hit, which came one out into the fifth. Senior Michael Jacobs and freshman Ricky Sandquist combined to throw four scoreless innings, allowing only one hit the last four innings.
Neither team registered a base hit through three innings. McCool collected the game’s first hit in the top of the fourth on a single up the middle.
Iowa (24-26) finally got to St. Ambrose’s pitching staff in the fifth inning. The Hawkeyes posted a crooked number, scoring five runs on four hits and one error. Iowa sent 10 batters to the plate, with the first six reaching base safely. The inning featured a Muller bases-clearing triple, his team-leading seventh three-bagger of the year.
Iowa padded its lead in the sixth, plating two more runs on one hit and two errors. Chett Zeise scored on an errant throw from third baseman Sean Murphy on a well-placed Lee bunt. Also, pinch-hitter Andrew Ewing had a sacrifice fly, scoring Willis.
Iowa’s final tally was a result of a Sean Flanagan solo home run to right field in the top of the ninth, his fourth big fly of the year.
The Hawkeyes conclude the regular season later this week with a three-game series against the Purdue Boilermakers. Game one is set for a 6:05 p.m. Thursday start at Duane Banks Field.