Late Inning Rally Lifts Iowa Past Michigan State

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May 12, 2012

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EAST LANSING, Mich. – The University of Iowa baseball team scored runs in the eighth and the ninth innings to come-from-behind and upend Michigan State, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at a soggy McLane Stadium. The start of today’s game was delayed two and a half hours due to rain.

Trailing 1-0 in the eighth inning, Iowa (19-25, 7-12) finally cracked the scoreboard. With runners on the corners and one out, Jake Mangler hit a rocket to center field, but Anthony Cheky made a diving catch to rob the Hawkeye sophomore of his third hit of the day. Despite the catch Iowa was able to score; Nick Day trotted home from third for a sacrifice fly to even the contest.

The Hawkeyes claimed the lead in the next frame with a pinch-hit, two-out, bases loaded walk by Anthony Torres allowing Mike McQuillan to score the winning run off Spartan reliever Bryce Jenney.

“This was a good solid baseball game,” said Iowa head coach Jack Dahm. “There was great pitching and tremendous defensive plays by both teams. Our focus was much better today.”

Both starting pitchers threw the ball extremely well; each throwing seven and a third innings, but getting no-decisions. Michigan State’s Andrew Waszak allowed one run while scattering three hits, while Iowa’s Sasha Kuebel yielded six hits.

Nick Brown and Taylor Kaufman silenced the Spartan bats the final inning and two thirds. Kaufman pitched the final inning and a third and registered his third career win, improving to 3-0. Michigan State (32-17, 11-9) reliever Jeff Kinley got the loss.

“I can’t say enough about Sasha’s performance,” said Dahm. “We competed incredibly hard on the mound today. Taylor [Kaufman] and Nick [Brown] also threw the ball well.”

The Hawkeyes and Spartans conclude their weekend set tomorrow. Fitch pitch is slated for 12:05 p.m. (CT) at McLane Stadium.