Late Home Run Dooms Hawkeyes at Michigan

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May 5, 2013

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan’s Zach Zott hit a two-run, two out home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, handing the University of Iowa baseball team a 4-3 defeat in the rubber match of a three-game series at the Wilpon Complex.

“That’s a tough loss,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “We played good and did some good things, but we still let this one slip away and it’s very, very disappointing. I feel bad for the guys.”

It was a stinging loss for the Hawkeyes, as they led for the entire game before Zott’s blast to right center field. It was rare come-from-behind win for an Iowa opponent. The Hawkeyes entered the contest with an 11-1 record when holding a lead after the seventh inning.

“We have been winning games that we lead late,” Dahm said. “We played harder this weekend, which meant we played better and that was my number one goal for these guys.”

Iowa (17-25, 5-13) scored all its runs and took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning, tallying three runs on four hits. The Hawkeyes put runners on second and third to open the inning, as senior Dan Sheppard started the frame with a double down left field line and sophomore Nick Day singled to right field. Sophomore Eric Toole drove in the first run with one out, hitting a bunt single to plate Sheppard. Sophomore Kris Goodman followed Toole with a two-run double to left center field, scoring Day and Toole.

Senior pitchers Andrew Hanse and Ricky Sandquist held Michigan scoreless over the first six innings, scattering six hits.

The Wolverines (24-21, 10-8) broke through for two runs on one hit in the bottom of the seventh inning, cutting the Iowa advantage to one run. Sandquist pitched into trouble, walking two batters and hitting another to load the bases with no outs. After a 5-2-3 double play by the Hawkeye defense, Michigan pinch-hitter Kevin White hit a two-run single to right field to make the score 3-2.

“That hit gave them a little bit of momentum,” said Dahm. “If we get that out to work through a bases loaded situation, we win that game. The bottom of the seventh inning is the one that really hurt us.”

Michigan took its first lead of the game in its next at-bat, courtesy of Zott’s third home run on the season.

Reliever James Bourque kept the Hawkeyes off the scoreboard in the top on the ninth inning, securing his first save of the year and a Wolverine win. Logan McAnallen was credited with the win, his third victory this season. McAnallen tossed eight innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.

Hanse started on the mound for the Hawkeyes, taking a no-decision. Hanse allowed zero runs on three hits in four innings. Sandquist pitched three innings and allowed two runs on three hits, while sophomore Nick Hibbing took the loss after giving up two runs on one hit in one inning of work.

Iowa ended the series finale with seven hits, receiving a hit from seven of its nine starters with Goodman, Sheppard, and freshman Nick Roscetti contributing doubles. Goodman also registered two RBIs, bringing his team-high total to 23.

The Hawkeyes will play their final mid-week game of the regular season May 7, hosting Nebraska-Omaha at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City, Iowa. The game is slated to start at 6:05 p.m. (CT), and will be broadcast online on BTN.com.