Iowa Splits Doubleheader in Happy Valley

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April 20, 2013

Box Score

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The University of Iowa baseball team split a doubleheader at Penn State on Saturday at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Nittany Lions rallied for an 8-7 victory in the opener before the Hawkeyes won the night cap, 5-2.

“It was a good job by the team to come back (in game two) because it was extremely difficult loss that first game,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “We had control of it and just tried to hang on. We played not to lose instead of playing to win.

“It was good to come back and score in the first inning. Andrew Hanse and Ricky Sandquist had a lot to do why we won that second game. They did a good job on the mound.”

After playing a scoreless three innings in the opener, Iowa broke through with a big fourth inning, plating five runs on six hits while sending 10 batters to the plate. Junior Trevor Kenyon singled to lead off the frame before junior Keith Brand singled to put runners on the corner with one out. Kenyon then scored the first Iowa run on a Penn State passed ball.

Sophomore Jake Mangler and freshman Blake Hickman followed with RBI singles to make the score 3-0 before freshman Nick Roscetti doubled down the left field line to put runners on the corners a second time. Sophomore Eric Toole drove in the fourth run with an RBI single to center field, and Kenyon knocked in the fifth via a hit by pitch.

The Hawkeyes pushed their advantage to 7-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Brand and Mangler led off the frame with consecutive singles before the first run crossed the plate when Hickman reached on a Penn State error. Mangler scored the second run on a double play ground out off the bat of Roscetti.

The Nittany Lions got on the board with a single run in the fifth, before following with two runs in the sixth and single runs in the seventh and eighth to make the score 7-5 going into their final at-bat. Penn State then carried its momentum into the ninth against sophomore reliever Taylor Kaufman.

Penn State’s Alex Farkus singled to lead off the inning before Kaufman retired James Coates on a fly ball for the first out. Following a second Nittany Lion single, Taylor Skerpon doubled to center field to knock in the first run before J.C. Coban followed suit with a two-run, walk-off double down the left field line to send Penn State to its first Big Ten win.

Kaufman suffered the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in 1/3 of an inning. Senior Matt Dermody made the start for the Hawkeyes, allowing three runs on nine hits over six innings. Freshman Josh Martsching threw two innings in relief, allowing two runs on three hits with two strikeouts.

Iowa finished with 10 hits in the game, and four Hawkeyes — Brand (2-for-4, 2 runs), Mangler (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Mangler (2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI) and Hickman (2-for-5, 2 RBIs, 1 run) — all tallied multi-hit games.

The Hawkeyes rebounded from the game one loss by scoring in their first at-bat to take a 1-0 lead. Sophomore Kris Goodman scored the first run on an RBI fielder’s choice groundout off the bat of junior Trevor Kenyon.

The Nittany Lions answered in the bottom of the inning, pushing two runs across the plate to take a 2-1 advantage. The first Penn State run scored on a fielder’s choice by Luis Montesinos before Elliott Searer had a two-out RBI single through the left side.

Iowa regained the lead in the second, pushing three runs across the plate to take a 4-2 lead. Senior Dan Sheppard started the rally with a one-out single before Roscetti followed with a two-out single to left field. Toole and Goodman then both reached on errors, allowing Sheppard to score. Sophomore Jake Yacinich put Iowa on top with a two-run single to left field.

The Hawkeyes pushed across an insurance run in the fifth inning, courtesy of a pair of hits. Roscetti was credited with an RBI in the inning on a bunt single to plate Mangler.

Senior Andrew Hanse picked up his third win, allowing five hits over six innings. The right-hander struck out seven Penn State batters, but issued five walks. Senior Ricky Sandquist threw three scoreless innings to notch his second save. The righty surrendered a pair of hits and had two strikeouts.

The Hawkeyes had 11 hits in the game, including a three-hit outing by Roscetti. Yacinich (2-of-4, 2 RBIs), Kenyon (2-of-5, 1 RBI) and Sheppard (2-of-3, 1 R) all had two-hit games.

Steven Hill, who no-hit the Hawkeyes last season in Iowa City, suffered the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on 10 hits in five innings of work.

The rubber match of the series will take place Sunday beginning at 12:05 p.m. (CT).

“We came here to win the series,” said Dahm. “That’s our goal this weekend, and we still have that opportunity. We’ll see who wants it more tomorrow. We’ll see who comes out and plays better.”