March 14, 2012
AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The University of Iowa baseball team dropped a 5-3 decision to Long Island Wednesday afternoon. Trailing 5-1 entering the ninth inning, Iowa plated two runs and had the bases loaded with no outs, but was unable to push across any more runs. The game was played at Myrtle Park Field as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
After four scoreless innings to open the game, Long Island (8-7) struck first with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth off Hawkeye starter Nick Hibbing. The Blackbirds did not record a hit until the fifth.
Iowa (5-9) answered in the top of the sixth. Catcher Dan Sheppard drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk to score Mike McQuillan and make the score 3-1.
Long Island, the home team in the neutral site contest, added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to push its advantage to 5-1 heading to the final frame.
In the ninth, freshman Ryan Rumpf (2-for-4 with a run) led-off the frame with a single to right center. Fellow freshman Anthony Torres notched his first career hit with a double to left. With runners on second and third, freshman Jake Yacinich walked to load the bases. Freshman Eric Toole then singled to right field to move all runners up a base and cut the score to 5-2. After a Long Island pitching change, senior Kasey Carling walked to drive in a run, making the score 5-3. The Blackbird’s Tito Marrero retired the next three Iowa batters to secure the 5-3 win for Long Island.
Hibbing started and took a no-decision. The freshman pitched five innings in his first career start, allowing three runs on three hits. He struck out three Blackbirds. Tim Fangman and Ricky Sandquist saw action out of the Iowa bullpen.
Long Island’s Matt McCormick earned the win. He pitched five and two-thirds, allowing one run on three hits. Marrero earned his first save of the season.
Iowa continues action Thursday when it plays Jacksonville State in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. First pitch is scheduled for 9 a.m. (CT). It will mark the Hawkeyes’ sixth game in the last six days.
| Long Island 5, Iowa 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Iowa (5-9) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| LIU (8-7) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| Game Decision | ||||||||||||
| W: McCormick (LIU) 2-2 | ||||||||||||
| L: Hibbing (IOWA) 0-1 | ||||||||||||
| SV: Marrero (LIU) 1 | ||||||||||||