Iowa Loses Series Finale to Minnesota, 9-5

Stats

April 28, 2013

Box Score

• Iowa Baseball – Sunday Hawkeye Highlights vs. Minnesota

• Read the April issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
• 2013 Iowa Baseball Media Guide
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone/iPad app!
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Three three-run innings by Minnesota were too much for the University of Iowa baseball team in a 9-5 loss Sunday at Duane Banks Field.

The Hawkeyes helped Minnesota win its second game of a three-game series, as six of the Gophers’ nine runs were unearned after the Hawkeyes made five errors.

“We didn’t help our pitching at all,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “Some of the mistakes we are making out there are basic mistakes. You’re not going to win against a good, solid team like Minnesota when you make five errors.”

Similar to the first two games of the three-game set, Minnesota ran out to an early lead. The Golden Gophers scored three runs apiece in the top of the third and fifth innings to take a 6-0 lead.

Minnesota (26-14, 9-3) used three RBI singles by Andy Henkemeyer, Dan Olinger, and Michael Handel to score its three runs in the third inning.

The Golden Gophers’ second three-run frame was aided by two Hawkeye errors. Olinger scored the first run after a wild pitch, while the next two runs came courtesy of an error and a fielder’s choice.

Iowa (16-22, 4-11) responded in its half of the fifth by scoring a run on two hits, cutting the Minnesota advantage to 6-1. Sophomore Nick Day hammered his first triple of the season to center field with one out, setting up an RBI double by classmate Eric Toole.

The Hawkeyes got two more runs back in their next at-bat, making the score 6-3. Junior Trevor Kenyon, sophomore Jake Mangler, and junior Keith Brand opened frame with three consecutive singles. Brand’s single plated Kenyon, while Mangler would later score on an RBI ground out by senior Dan Sheppard.

Minnesota answered with three runs of its own in the top of the seventh inning, extending its lead to 9-3. The damage was done on three hits, including a Matt Halloran RBI double and a Connor Schaefbauer RBI single.

Iowa scored its final two runs in the bottom of the seventh via one a hit and a Minnesota error. Mangler drove in the first run of the frame with a two-out RBI single, driving the ball to left field. The hit forced a Minnesota throwing error, allowing Mangler and sophomore Kris Goodman to advance to second and third. Goodman would later cross the plate after a Minnesota wild pitch.

Minnesota starting pitcher DJ Snelten picked up the win, moving to 4-0 this season. Snelten tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits.

Sophomore Taylor Kaufman (1-3) was handed the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) on nine hits over four innings in his first career start.

The Hawkeyes finished the series finale with 12 hits. Toole, Kenyon, Mangler, and Brand all posted multi-hit efforts, accounting for 10 of the 12 hits. Toole and Kenyon each notched three-hit games, while Mangler and Brand tallied two hits apiece.

Iowa returns to Duane Banks Field on April 30, hosting Wisconsin-Milwaukee in a mid-week game. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. (CT). The game will be broadcast online at BTN.com.