Hawkeyes Fall to Arkansas-Little Rock, 5-2

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March 1, 2013

Box Score

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The University of Iowa baseball team was unable to capitalize on offensive opportunities Friday at Arkansas-Little Rock, falling to the Trojans, 5-2, at Gary Hogan Field.

“We had plenty of baserunners today, but did not come up with the big hit,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “We did not execute well offensively early in the game when we had a chance to score runs. They executed better offensively and our defensive miscues cost us.”

The Hawkeyes (3-4) left 12 runners on base, seven of which were in scoring position, and were hit by seven pitches.

“We did not take advantage of their mistakes,” Dahm said. “When a team hits you seven times, you think that you are going to find a way manufacture some runs but we did not take advantage of it. That was the difference in the game”

Sophomore Kris Goodman tallied half of the Hawkeyes’ hits, going 3-for-5 at the plate and stretching his career-best hit streak to seven games. It was Goodman’s third three-hit game and fourth multi-hit game of the season.

“He’s playing very good and not trying to do too much,” Dahm said. “That’s why he is having a lot of success. He understands who he is and is not complicating things. I’ve been very impressed with the improvement that Kris has made and he’s one of the hardest workers on the team. We need him to continue to play like that.”

Right-hander Chance Cleveland collected the win for UALR, allowing zero earned runs and striking out six in 7.1 innings of work. Cleveland was relieved by Cameron Allen and Dillon Moritz, who combined to hold Iowa scoreless over the final five outs. Moritz pitched the ninth for Arkansas-Little Rock, picking up his fourth save of the season.

The Trojans (6-3) built a 5-0 lead over the first five innings, scoring their first run in the bottom of the second inning via a David Guarno double.

Arkansas-Little Rock pushed its advantage to 2-0 in the next inning, as Ben Crumpton scored off a Blake Johnson sacrifice bunt.

Guarno registered his second RBI of the contest in the fourth inning, blasting a solo home run over the right field fence with two outs.

The Trojans capped their scoring with two runs in the fifth inning. Crumpton scored after an Iowa throwing error, while John Clark drove in Austin Pfeiffer by grounding into a fielder’s choice.

The Hawkeyes broke into the run column in the top of the sixth, putting two runs on the board. Junior Keith Brand scored Iowa’s first run, crossing the plate after a UALR throwing error. Sophomore Eric Toole would later plate classmate Jake Mangler by hitting a sacrifice fly to left center.

Sophomore Sasha Kuebel started on the mound for Iowa and was handed the loss. The St. Louis native tossed five innings, allowing four earned runs and fanning four batters. Senior Ricky Sandquist threw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Hawkeyes.

Iowa plays a doubleheader tomorrow at Gary Hogan Field. The Hawkeyes face Western Illinois at 11 a.m. (CT) before playing Arkansas-Little Rock in 3 p.m. (CT) rematch.