Iowa Drops Series Finale at Michigan

Stats | Boxscore

March 30, 2014

Box Score

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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Iowa baseball team rallied from a 5-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth inning only to surrender the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth in a 6-5 loss to Michigan on Sunday afternoon at the Wilpon Complex.

The Wolverines won the final two games to take 2-of-3 in the weekend series.

“I admire the fight in our guys, we didn’t give up after we didn’t have a good day at the plate,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “Their lefty was in control all game long and was tough. We kept battling and found a way to tie it up.

“It was a tough weekend for us because it’s one we could have won all three if we played good baseball.”

Trailing 5-0 heading into the top of the eighth inning, the Hawkeyes broke through against four Michigan relievers to tie the game. Junior Jake Yacinich led off the frame with a single through the right side before Dan Potempa walked to chase right-hander Alex Lakatos after two batters.

Senior Taylor Zeutenhorst welcomed the second Wolverine pitcher — Keith Lehmann — with a single up the middle to load the bases before junior Nick Day drew a walk to plate the first Hawkeye run. Junior Kris Goodman followed with a second-straight walk, this time against Logan McAnallen to make the score 5-2.

Sophomore Blake Hickman cut the deficit to 5-4 when he lined a two-run single to left centerfield and the Hawkeyes tied the game at five via a safety squeeze off the bat of sophomore Nick Roscetti to make it a whole new ball game.

“When we got to their bullpen, we were able to take advantage of some walks by the Michigan pitchers and Blake stepped up with a big hit with the bases loaded,” said Heller. “We had opportunities to go ahead, but we didn’t execute today.

“It was a sign to me and our team that we have to go back to the drawing board on things, and we have to improve this week.”

After Hickman moved from his catcher position to the mound and retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth, the Hawkeyes threatened in the top of the ninth, putting two runners on base with nobody out. Michigan reliever Brett Adcock struck out the next two batters looking before getting Hickman to hit a comebacker to end the inning with runners on second and third.

The Wolverines got a leadoff walk from Jackson Lamb to start the bottom half of the inning before the right fielder swiped second to move into scoring position. After Hickman got the first out of the inning via a strikeout, Iowa went to sophomore Tyler Radtke on the mound.

After going 3-0 to Travis Maezes, Iowa intentionally walked the shortstop before Jacob Cronenworth reached on a fielder’s choice, which advanced Lamb to third base. With two outs, center fielder Jackson Glines laced an RBI game-winning single to right field to send the Wolverines to the series victory.

Hickman (2-1) suffered the loss, allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings despite not allowing a hit. He had three strikeouts to one walk in the game. Sophomore Tyler Peyton allowed five runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings, finishing with one strikeout to four walks. Junior Nick Hibbing was dominant in 2 2/3 innings, allowing zero hits and striking out a pair.

Two Hawkeyes — Yacinich and Zeutenhorst — accounted for five of Iowa’s eight hits in the game. Zeutenhorst finished 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Yacinich was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Hickman was 1-for-5 with two RBIs in the contest.

Adcock (2-2) picked up the victory after pitching a scoreless ninth inning, surrendering a single Iowa hit. Michigan got a strong outing out of starter Trent Szkutnick, as the southpaw pitched seven scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out six.

Michigan pushed the game’s first run across the plate in the first inning via a two-out rally. Glines started things off with an infield single before Iowa caught a break when Tony Jusick’s hit down the left field line bounced out of play for a ground rule double, forcing Glines to stop at third. The Wolverines scored on a Peyton wild pitch.

Michigan broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, plating four runs on just two hits and one Hawkeye error. Maezes doubled home the first Michigan run and Jusick walked with the bases loaded to make the score 3-0 and chase Peyton from the contest. Junior Brandon Shulista entered the game in relief, but he wasn’t sharp, walking in a pair of runs on 10 pitches.

Iowa (15-9, 3-3) returns to action Wednesday, facing Bradley in Peoria, Ill. The Hawkeyes return to Banks Field next weekend for a three-game series against Indiana.