Hawkeyes Fall in 13 Innings in B1G Opener

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March 22, 2013

Box Score

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CAROL STREAM, Ill. — Jack Havey’s walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning sent Northwestern to a 2-1 victory over the University of Iowa baseball team Friday afternoon at Lee Pfund Stadium.

The Wildcats’ Kyle Ruchim started the rally with a one-out double to left field before moving up a base on a Zach Jones groundout. Havey followed with an RBI single to left field to send Northwestern to a victory in its Big Ten opener.

Senior Andrew Hanse took the loss, allowing one run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. He had three strikeouts to zero walks in the game.

The Hawkeyes had opportunities, but they couldn’t capitalize. Iowa had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth, stranded sophomore Jake Mangler at second base in the 11th and couldn’t push across sophomore Kris Goodman in the 13th, despite a leadoff ground-rule double.

“It’s a disappointing loss,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “We didn’t get the job done with guys at third base with less than two outs. We had our chances, and in games like that, when you have opportunities, you need to be able to put the ball in play.

“It was a heck of a college ball game, but we have to execute when we have our opportunities to score.”

Iowa finished with nine hits in the game with sophomore Eric Toole and Mangler each tallying two-hit efforts. Toole was 2-for-6 with a triple and run scored, while Mangler finished 2-for-4. Goodman was 1-for-5 with the Hawkeyes’ lone RBI.

The Hawkeyes are now 2-1 in extra inning games this season. The 13-inning game was the longest for the team since March 29, 2011 — a 14-inning affair against South Dakota State.

Iowa played the game without the services of starting shortstop Jake Yacinich, who is out with a concussion suffered last weekend in the three-game series against Nebraska-Omaha.

The Hawkeyes fell behind 1-0 in the seventh inning when Havey connected on a solo home run down the left field line to lead-off the frame. It was the only run sophomore starter Nick Hibbing surrendered in six innings of work. The right-hander gave up three hits over the first six innings before the Wildcats chased him with three hits and a run in the seventh.

“Our pitching staff was tremendous,” said Dahm. “Nick, coming off a tough outing, threw the ball well and gave us an opportunity. (Taylor) Kaufman and Hanse threw the ball extremely well and made big pitches.”

Sophomore Taylor Kaufman entered with two on and nobody out before inducing a groundout and an inning-ending double play to end the Wildcat threat. Kaufman was strong in relief, allowing one hit over 4 1/3 innings with one strikeout.

The Hawkeyes answered in the top of the eighth. Toole led off the frame with a triple to right field before scoring on an RBI groundout off the bat of Goodman.

Iowa (8-9, 0-1) will close out the three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader. The opening game is set to begin at 12 p.m. (CT), while game two will start 30 minutes following the completion of the opener.