Hawkeyes Win Wild Series Opener in Extra-Innings

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April 26, 2013

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Junior Keith Brand’s bases loaded hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning propelled the University of Iowa baseball team to a 10-9 win over Minnesota on Friday at Duane Banks Field.

“I knew they were going to bust me on the inside,” said Brand. “It’s not what I was going up there to do, but I’ll take it.”

Brand’s game-winning hit-by-pitch was his second of the contest, and his 18th of the season. The 18 hit-by-pitches rank third all-time in program history.

“Leave it to Keith Brand to end a game that way,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “He just finds a way to get it done and he’s been a great story for us for four years.”

Brand’s heroics were set up after freshman Nick Roscetti (walk), sophomore Eric Toole (single), and sophomore Kris Goodman (intentional walk) all reached base to open the frame. Minnesota reliever Ty McDevitt did his best to escape the jam, inducing a fielder’s choice and a strike out over the next two batters before plunking Brand. McDevitt suffered the loss.

Iowa (16-20, 4-9) rallied in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings to send the game into extra-innings, scoring five runs between the two frames to even the score 9-9.

The Hawkeyes scored four runs on one hit — a grand-slam by Goodman — in their half of the eighth inning to close the deficit to 9-8. Freshman Blake Hickman, sophomore Jake Yacinich, and Roscetti drew back-to-back-to-back one-out walks to load the bases, setting up Goodman’s first collegiate home run. Goodman bases-clearing bomb soared over the left field fence and gave him a new career high in RBIs (4).

Junior Taylor Zeutenhorst evened the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the ninth by hitting a two-out, pinch-hit double down the left field line that scored sophomore Jake Mangler. It was Zeutenhorst’s third double of the year.

Iowa never led until Brand’s 10th inning hit-by-pitch, as Minnesota built a 9-4 lead entering the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Golden Gophers (24-14, 7-3) took a 5-0 in the top of the second inning, scoring five runs via a Dan Olinger RBI single, a three-run home run by Alex LaShomb, and a passed ball.

The Hawkeyes got on the scoreboard in bottom of the fourth inning, pushing two runs across the plate to make the score 5-2. Iowa loaded the bases with one out after junior Trevor Kenyon singled, sophomore Taylor Kaufman walked and Brand was plunked. Sophomore Jake Mangler plated Kenyon with an RBI fielder’s choice, while Kaufman scored courtesy of a balk by Minnesota starting pitcher Tom Windle.

Minnesota scored its sixth run in the top of the sixth inning, as Kurt Schlangen crossed the plate while the Hawkeyes turned a double play.

Iowa answered with a run in the sixth and seventh innings, making the score 6-4. Mangler drove in his second run of the game in the sixth, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Kaufman. The RBIs were Mangler’s 15th and 16th of the season.

Kenyon was responsible for the Hawkeyes seventh inning run, as he hit his team-best sixth double to left center field to score Toole.

The Golden Gophers stretched their lead to 9-4 in the eighth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. Dan Motl, Connor Schaefbauer, and Michael Handel all recorded RBI singles in the frame.

It was all Hawkeyes from their half of the eighth inning on, as they scored six unanswered runs to secure a 10-9 victory.

Senior Matt Dermody started on the mound for Iowa, taking a no-decision. The Norwalk, Iowa, native rebounded from a five run, five hit second inning, allowing just one run on five hits over his next five innings of work. Dermody pitched seven innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits. Sophomore Nick Hibbing was credited with his first win of the season after recording two outs in the top of the 10th inning.

Iowa finished the contest with 10 runs on 10 hits, despite facing against a Minnesota pitching staff that entered the game ranked second in the Big Ten with a 2.72 team ERA. Toole paced the Hawkeyes with three hits, his third straight multi-hit effort and his second three hit performance in the last three games.

“Hats off to our team,” said Dahm. “We did an outstanding job and it was good to see. That’s one of those wins that hopefully can give us a little momentum heading into tomorrow.”

The Hawkeyes continue their series with Minnesota tomorrow at Duane Banks Field, beginning at 1:05 p.m. (CT).