6-Run 4th Propels Iowa Over Bucknell

March 13, 2012

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The University of Iowa baseball team defeated Bucknell Tuesday evening, 8-6. The game was played at Chain O Lakes Park as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

“It was a great team win by our guys,” said head coach Jack Dahm. “We used a lot of guys off the bench. We used five pitchers. (Andrew) Hedrick did a great job to start the game and he threw very well for his first college start. Andrew Hanse was outstanding as well, to go along with (Patrick) Lala, (Taylor) Kaufman and (Nick) Brown finishing it off. It was a great effort by our guys. That was a good win against a tough team; you will see Bucknell playing in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the year.”

The Hawkeye offense tallied 10 hits. Senior Mike McQuillan paced Iowa in the lead-off spot, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Sophomore Taylor Zeutenhorst and senior Kasey Carling also tallied multi-hit games, each finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI. Sophomore Bryan Niedbalski notched two RBI as well.

Bucknell (7-5) struck first with a run in the top of the first on an RBI single through the right side off Hawkeye starter Andrew Hedrick.

Iowa (5-9) answered in the bottom of the second. Zeutenhorst doubled down the right field line to score Ryan Rumpf, who led off the frame with a single through the left side.

After the Bison took a 3-1 lead with two runs in the third, Iowa regained a 7-3 lead with six runs in the fourth. The Hawkeyes used an RBI double by Carling, and an RBI by Kris Goodman to even the score at 3-3. McQuillan doubled to left center to score two and Niedbalski added a two-out, two-RBI single to make the score 7-3.

The Hawkeyes added a run in the sixth on an RBI double by Chett Zeise to take an 8-3 lead, and would hang on to win 8-6.

Hedrick started and took a no-decision. The freshman pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits. He struck out five Bison.

Andrew Hanse earned the win, the first of his Hawkeye career. The junior pitched two and two-thirds, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out four. Patrick Lala and Taylor Kaufman also saw action out of the Iowa bullpen.

Senior Nick Brown earned his second career save in as many days. He pitched a scoreless ninth to seal the Hawkeye victory.

Bucknell’s Bryson Hough took the loss. He pitched three and a third, allowing seven runs on five hits.

“We had some very timely hitting, which was key,” said Dahm. “Our defense has been much better here the last two days, along with our focus. We need to continue to get better.”

Iowa continues action Wednesday when it plays Long Island in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT). It will mark the Hawkeyes’ fifth game in the last five days.