Milwaukee Jumps on Iowa Early in 10-3 Win

April 30, 2013

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — A solo home run on the second pitch of the game began a 10-run Milwaukee outburst over the first five innings, which propelled the Panthers to a 10-3 victory over the University of Iowa baseball team Tuesday at Duane Banks Field.

Milwaukee, the Horizon League leaders, belted out 15 hits in the game, including five extra base hits in the contest. Every starter tallied at least one hit. Panther starter Brian Keller picked up his first career victory, allowing three runs on six hits in a complete game win in his first collegiate start. The right-hander held Iowa hitless over the first 4 1/3 innings.

“We got beat by a team that wanted it more, that was more ready to play,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “I am not taking anything away from their pitcher, but that’s a guy that’s giving up a .370 batting average, and we’re giving up easy out after easy out. It’s disappointing.

“Even when we had the opportunity to chip away at it a little bit, it’s 10-3 and in a couple of innings in a row, we had a chance to get big hits with two outs to drive in a few more runs. We left those guys out there where we could have put a little pressure on them and their pitcher.”

Milwaukee jumped in front in its opening at-bat, when lead-off hitter Luke Meeteer connected on a solo home run to left field off Hawkeye starter Calvin Mathews. After going down in order in the second, the Panthers put a two-spot on the board to take a 3-0 advantage, courtesy of a two-run blast by nine-hole hitter Alex Erdmann.

Milwaukee broke the game open in the fourth and fifth innings, pushing seven runs across the plate to stretch the lead to 10-0. Pat Wilson had a two-run double in the fourth before the Panthers put up five runs on five hits in the fifth.

Iowa got things going offensively in the bottom of the fifth, plating a pair of runs on two hits. Junior Taylor Zeutenhorst led off the inning with a walk before scoring on a one-out RBI double by sophomore Anthony Torres — Iowa’s first hit. With two outs, sophomore Nick Day knocked in the second run of the frame with an RBI single to left center.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the sixth, the Hawkeyes pushed across its third run on three hits in the bottom of the frame, but it could have been more.

Three straight singles by junior Trevor Kenyon, Zeutenhorst and sophomore Jake Mangler made the score 10-3. Iowa loaded the bases with two outs when Blake Hickman reached via a hit by pitch, but Keller got out of the jam by inducing a Day pop-out to end the inning.

Mathews suffered the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in three innings of work. Sophomore Sasha Kuebel was effective in relief, allowing two unearned runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Six different Hawkeyes tallied a hit in the game, while Torres, Mangler and Day accounted for the three RBIs.

Iowa (16-23) returns to action Friday for the opener of a three-game series at Michigan. First pitch is set for 5:05 p.m. (CT).