Hawkeyes Beat Western Illinois, Win Series

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March 27, 2011

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MACOMB, Ill. – – The Iowa baseball team beat Western Illinois Sunday afternoon, 6-2, at Boyer Field. With today’s victory, Iowa captures this weekend’s three-game set against the Leathernecks, winning two of the three contests. Six different Hawkeyes registered a hit in today’s four-run triumph.

Sophomore Matt Dermody won his first game of the season, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six in seven innings of work. Sophomore Ben Bergman pitched a scoreless eighth inning, while seniors Phil Keppler and Kevin Lee combined to throw a scoreless ninth.

“I thought we played a solid baseball game today,” said Iowa Head Coach Jack Dahm. “We can feel good about the way we played. Matt Dermody gave us a nice solid outing. He pounded the zone and pitched with pace. I liked the flow of the game and how we played behind him.”

Iowa, who has scored first in all nine of its victories, was the first to strike again today. The Hawkeyes plated two runs on two hits in the top of the first inning. Tyson Blaser drove home Kurt Lee on an RBI single up the middle, while Mike McQuillan crossed home plate on a safety squeeze by Zach McCool giving Iowa the early 2-0 advantage.

The Hawkeyes added to their lead in the fourth. With two runners on and two outs, Lee hit what looked to be a routine fly ball to left, but Western Illinois left fielder Anthony Kaskadden lost the ball in the sun and the ball dropped for a two-RBI single. The hit extended Lee’s hit streak to seven games. Lee finished the day with two hits, two stolen bases, a walk and two RBI.

Western Illinois (4-17) got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with a single tally on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-1.

Iowa (9-11) pushed two more across the plate in the fifth to stretch its advantage to 6-1. Keppler, who reached base on his first double of the year, and Andrew Ewing scored after a ball hit by Chett Zeise went through the second baseman’s legs.

The Leathernecks scored their final run on a bases loaded fielder’s choice in the seventh to make the score 6-2.

Iowa will open a six-game home stand Tuesday when it hosts South Dakota State. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. at Duane Banks Field. Admission is $3 for adults and free for youths and UI students.