Hawkeyes Rally to Beat Michigan in Game 1

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April 23, 2011

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Iowa baseball rallied from a six-run deficit to beat Michigan 13-7 in game one of a twin bill at Duane Banks Field. It marks the Hawkeyes’ first Big Ten series opener win of the season. Iowa scored 11 of its 13 runs in the middle innings (seven in the fourth, three in the fifth and one in the sixth).

Today marked Iowa’s largest comeback victory since erasing a seven-run deficit against Michigan in an 11-8 triumph on May 29, 2010 in the semifinals of last year’s Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

Michigan (11-25, 4-6) got on the board first with five runs in the top of the second on five singles and a sacrifice fly. The first tally was plated via sacrifice fly. The next three runs crossed home plate on a bases clearing double to right center, while the fifth came on a wild pitch.

The Wolverines padded their lead by one in the third via two hits and an RBI groundout.

Iowa’s offense came alive in the fourth, sending 11 batters to the dish exploding for seven runs on four hits and a Wolverine error. Mike McQuillan led off the frame with a solo shot over the right field fence. The big fly was the junior’s second of the year. Later in the inning, Keith Brand collected a bases loaded walk. Zach McCool then drew a bases loaded hit-by-pitch. Trevor Willis kept the rally alive with his seventh double of the year down the left field line to score two more and make the score 6-5. McQuillan returned to the plate and ripped a two-RBI double to give Iowa the one-run lead. The big inning featured a home run, a double and three RBI by McQuillan in two at-bats.

Michigan tied the contest in the top of the fifth on an RBI single to deep short. The run was the last the Wolverines would score.

Iowa (15-20, 4-6) recaptured the lead in the bottom half of the fifth with three two-out runs to go ahead 10-7. Pinch hitter Phil Keppler laced an RBI single to right for the first tally. McCool followed with a single through the left side for his second RBI. The hot hitting continued with a single up the middle by Willis, scoring McCool. Willis finished the game 2-for-4, with a walk, three RBI and a run scored.

The Hawkeyes extended their lead to 11-7 in the sixth on a Chett Zeise sacrifice fly to left field scoring McCool. Iowa tallied its final two runs on a Bryan Niedbalski two-run home run to right. The freshman went 2-for-4, with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.

The home runs by McQuillan and Niedbalski marked the first time the Hawkeyes had multiple round trippers in a game this season.

Hawkeye junior Jarred Hippen earned his second win throwing six and two thirds, allowing seven runs (six earned), while striking out six. Tim Fangman pitched a scoreless two and a third, striking out two, en route to collecting his second save. Michigan reliever Jake Engels got the loss.

Iowa and Michigan will play game two of today’s doubleheader at approximately 4:30 p.m. at Duane Banks Field.