March 31, 2015
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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The 24th-ranked University of Iowa baseball team scored two runs early and seven late to post a 9-2 victory over Grand View on Tuesday afternoon at Banks Field. The win was Iowa’s 18th of the season.
After holding a 2-1 lead through 5 1/2 innings, the Hawkeyes pushed seven runs across the plate in their final three half innings, plating two in the sixth, one in the seven, and four in the eighth.
“It was a good day, we treated the day just like a conference weekend, which is what you have to do if you’re going to win the midweek games,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “Grand View gave us a lot of free bases in the first couple of innings, and we didn’t take advantage of it.
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“I was happy with our guys, they didn’t change their approach or get down, and that’s why we were able to score some runs late.”
Senior Kris Goodman led off the sixth with a stand-up double to left field before freshman Grant Klenovich was the beneficiary of a sun ball, and it resulted in an RBI triple to right, giving Iowa a 3-1 lead. It was Klenovich’s first career hit. With one out, junior Nick Roscetti tacked on Iowa’s second run with an RBI single to right field, making the score 4-1.
After Grand View trimmed the lead to 4-2 with a single run in the seventh, Iowa got the run back in the bottom half. Junior Tyler Peyton bounced a one-out single up the middle before scoring on an RBI double from junior Joel Booker, making the score 5-2.
Iowa broke the game open in the eighth, scoring four runs on three hits. Junior Daniel Aaron Moriel reached via a base on ball to start the frame before Roscetti doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Moriel crossed the plate on a balk by Grand View pitcher Josh Baker.
Senior Eric Toole reached for the fourth time to put runners on the corners before senior Jake Mangler made the score 7-2 with an RBI single to left field. Senior Nick Day put the finishing touches on the inning, lacing a two-run double to right field to make the score 9-2.
Peyton and Roscetti accounted for four of Iowa’s nine hits in the contest. Peyton was 2-for-3 with two runs, while Roscetti finished 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Day, Booker, and Klenovich all drove in a pair of runs. Toole’s 15-game hitting streak came to an end, as he finished 0-for-1 in the contest.
Redshirt sophomore Jared Mandel (1-0) earned the victory, allowing one unearned run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings. Freshman Nick Gallagher made his first career start, allowing one run on one hit in 3 2/3 innings. Senior Brandon Shulista and junior Luke Vandermaten got the final nine outs.
“It was great to get Nick out there for a real start and let him roll,” said Heller. “Jared did well, and it was good to see him get out and get some innings underneath his belt. We’re going to need both those guys down the stretch.”
Grand View starter Spencer Lockwood was tagged with the loss, allowing two runs in 2/3 inning. The right-hander didn’t allow a hit, but walked five batters without getting out of the first inning.
Iowa jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in its first at-bat without a hit. Three of the first four Hawkeye batters drew walks against Lockwood before Booker drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right field. Klenovich followed with a fourth walk to plate Peyton, making the score 2-0.
Gallagher retired the first 10 batters he faced before the Vikings got things going with a one-out rally in the fourth. Johnny Herrera drew a one-out walk before stealing second with two outs. Following a walk to Blake Marchant to put two runners on, Evan DeCovich delivered an RBI single to right field to make the score 2-1.
Marchant and DeCovich moved up a base on a Booker throwing error on the play, forcing the Hawkeyes to go to the bullpen. Mandel got out of the jam, getting Zach Nielsen to fly out to centerfield to end the threat.
Iowa (18-6) returns to action Wednesday, facing Western Illinois in Macomb. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (CT).