5-Run 7th Inning Lifts Iowa to 6-2 Win

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May 10, 2013

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• Highlights and reaction from Iowa’s 6-2 win Friday over MSU

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — A five-run bottom of the seventh inning lifted the University of Iowa baseball team to a 6-2 victory over Michigan State on Friday evening at Duane Banks Field.

“That’s what you like to see,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “We were being aggressive and came up with some timely hits. It was a great first game for us, and that’s the way you want see your team play on Friday.”

The Hawkeyes (18-26, 6-13) entered the bottom of the seventh trailing 2-1 before erupting for five runs on five hits. Sophomore Anthony Torres (single¬) and junior Taylor Zeutenhorst (fielding error) reached to open the frame, and advanced into scoring position courtesy of a sacrifice bunt by freshman Nick Roscetti. Sophomore Nick Day followed with an RBI single, evening the score 2-2.

Sophomore Kris Goodman gave the Hawkeyes a 3-2 lead two batters later, scoring Day with an RBI single up the middle. Classmate Jake Yacinich followed with an RBI single of his own, before junior Trevor Kenyon capped the five-run inning with a pinch hit, two-run double into the left center field gap.

The seventh inning offense was more than enough run support for senior starting pitcher Matt Dermody. Dermody tossed a gem in his final collegiate outing at Duane Banks Field, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings to improve to 7-2 on the year. The Norwalk, Iowa, native added nine strikeouts, tying a career-best he set last season against Northwestern.

“It started on the mound for us tonight,” Dahm said. “What a great way for Matt to go out at Duane Banks Field, throwing like that and setting a tone for the weekend for us. His mentality the entire game was outstanding.”

Michigan State (28-15, 9-7) built a 2-1 lead by scoring a run in the top of the fifth and seventh innings. Kam Gibson drove in both runs, hitting an RBI single in the fifth and a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

The Spartans threatened to score in the top of the ninth; loading the bases with two outs against sophomore reliever Taylor Kaufman. Kaufman worked out of the trouble, inducing a Jimmy Pickens fly out deep to the warning track in right centerfield to end the game. Kaufman tossed two scoreless innings, allowing a pair of hits.

Iowa scored its first run in the bottom of the sixth inning via two hits. Sophomore Eric Toole led-off the inning with a double down the right field line, and later scored on an RBI single by Yacinich.

The Hawkeyes tallied 10 hits against the Spartans, marking the 20th time this season they have reached double-digit hits. Torres and Yacinich accounted for half of the 10 hits, as Torres went 3-for-4 and Yacinich went 2-of-4. Torres’ three hits set a new career-high.

Iowa and Michigan State will play the middle game of a three-game set tomorrow at Duane Banks Field, starting at 1:05 p.m. (CT).