Hawkeyes Fall to Western Illinois in Extras

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April 15, 2014

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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa rallied from four-run deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning only to give up two runs in the top of the 10th inning to fall to Western Illinois, 8-6, Tuesday night at Banks Field. The Hawkeyes couldn’t overcome a season-high four errors, which led to a five-run fifth inning.

“It was a sloppy game by us,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “We got down because of a bad fifth inning where we made four errors, which is uncharacteristic of our ball club. All four were throwing errors, and they really cost us.”

Trailing 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Hawkeyes closed to within one, pushing across three runs. Following three-straight hit by pitches to start the inning, junior Jake Mangler hit a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the deficit to 6-3. Sophomore Tyler Peyton followed with a two-out RBI single down the right field line and junior Jake Yacinich doubled home Eric Toole to make the score 6-5.

Iowa tied the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and had the game-winning run thrown out at home plate. Following consecutive singles by Mangler and Dan Potempa, the Hawkeyes were down to their final out. Senior Taylor Zeutenhorst pounded a ball into the turf and Leatherneck closer Tyler Owings fielded the ball and threw it into right field. Mangler scored from second base and Yacinich, who reached on a fielder’s choice, was waved from first, but was gunned down by WIU right fielder Neil DeCook at the plate, sending the game to extra innings.

“We were that close to walking out of here with a win,” said Heller. “We tried to score Yacinich from first and their right fielder made a bang-bang play at the plate.”

Following a leadoff single in the 10th, Western Illinois used small ball to put the go-ahead run into scoring position. UI reliever Tyler Radtke then hit Zack Burling and Neil DeCook to load the bases with two outs. Leatherneck cleanup hitter Tanner Glore made Iowa pay, roping a two-run single to right field — his fourth hit of the game — to give Western Illinois a 8-6 lead.

Iowa went down in order in the bottom of the 10th inning against reliever Robbie Nunn, who recorded his first save.

Radtke (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 2 1/3 innings. Iowa used five pitchers in the contest, including three scoreless innings by starter Blake Hickman.

Iowa finished with 10 hits for the sixth-straight game with Potempa and Yacinich accounting for six hits. Potempa went 3-for-5, and Yacinich was 3-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

Owings (2-1) earned the win despite allowing the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning. He went 1 1/3 innings, allowing a pair of hits. WIU used seven pitchers in the game, including 5 2/3 innings of five-hit, two-run ball by starter Tom Constand.

Trailing 2-0 through four innings, the Leathernecks put up a five spot in the top of the fifth courtesy of four hits and four Hawkeye errors. Burling reached on an error by Nick Roscetti to start the frame before scoring on a second throwing error by reliever Matt Allen one batter later. DeCook followed with an RBI double before Glore singled to second base to bring home the third run to chase Allen from the contest.

Glore scored the fourth run on a throwing error on Jimmy Frankos on a Western Illinois steal attempt before Adam McGinnis picked up a bizarre RBI when his infield single was rolling foul before catching a seam in the AstroTurf and rolling into fair territory for a base hit.

The Leathernecks added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Glore drew a leadoff walk before scoring on a Jake Moore double off the right centerfield wall, pushing the Western Illinois lead to 6-2.

Iowa struck first in the contest, pushing two runs across the plate in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Jimmy Frankos drove in the game’s first run with an opposite field single to left, scoring Yacinich, who singled to lead off the inning. Roscetti scored the second run when Nick Day reached on a throwing error by WIU second baseman Travis Stafford.

The Hawkeyes (20-14) return to Big Ten play Friday, hosting Minnesota in the first of a three game series beginning at 6 p.m. (CT).

“We’re so close to being a good team, but until these lapses stop in the midweek, we won’t be,” said Heller. “We came out flat tonight and didn’t play well. There isn’t much we can do, it was a tough loss, and we have to bounce back and get ready to go this weekend.”