Hawkeyes Fall To West Virginia In Season Opener

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Feb. 18, 2011

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CLEARWATER, Fla. – – The Iowa baseball team lost its season opener, 5-0, to West Virginia Friday morning at Jack Russell Stadium. The game was Iowa’s first of three at the Big East/Big Ten Challenge.

“I am disappointed we didn’t get the win,” said Head Coach Jack Dahm. I thought West Virginia’s pitcher threw a very good game. They jumped on us early. We fell behind and we just didn’t get our bats going offensively. We were pressing a little bit and were a little anxious from an offensive standpoint. I thought we did a lot of good things. We are disappointed we lost, but there are still some positives in there.”

The Mountaineers plated all five runs in the first three innings off Hawkeye lefty Jarred Hippen. Grant Buckner scored the first run on a solo home run to left field.

West Virginia (1-0) added two more runs in the bottom of the second on three doubles. Buckner struck again in the third, connecting on his second big fly of the game, this time a two-run homer to left center.

Hippen took the loss in his season debut, going six innings, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits. The junior struck out four Mountaineers.

West Virginia’s Jonathan Jones earned the victory, throwing six and a third scoreless baseball, while allowing only two Hawkeye hits. Marcus Broadwater threw the final two and two thirds, also allowing only two Hawkeye hits.

Hawkeye senior Kurt Lee collected half of Iowa’s four hits, hitting a double and a single. Zach McCool and Dan Sheppard accounted for Iowa’s other two hits.

Iowa (0-1) returns to action tomorrow in the Big East/Big Ten Challenge when they play Pittsburgh. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m. (CT) from Bright House Field. Hawkeye fans can watch the game online for free at: http://bigeastbigtenbaseballchallenge.com.