April 14, 2015
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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
PEORIA, Ill. — Bradley scored two runs in the seventh inning to rally from a 4-3 deficit and hand the 14th-ranked University of Iowa baseball team a 5-4 loss Tuesday night at Dozer Park.
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“It’s disappointing to have a lead late and let it slip away,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “It would have been a good win against a good team on the road, but it just didn’t happen for us tonight.”
The Hawkeyes led 4-3 through 6 1/2 innings before the Braves used three hits to plate a pair of runs to take the lead for good. Spencer Gaa led off the inning with an infield single before Iowa went to the bullpen in favor of senior Nick Hibbing.
After sacrificing Gaa to second base, Bradley tied the game on a two-out RBI single from Drew Carlile, and Tyler Leffler doubled home the go-ahead run, giving the Braves a 5-4 lead.
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“We fought back and took the lead and the seventh inning was tough,” said Heller. “They got a couple of two-out hits and we botched a relay that cost us the go-ahead run.”
The Hawkeyes left two runners on in the eighth and couldn’t take advantage of a Tyler Peyton one-out single in the ninth. Iowa finished with seven hits in the game, two from Peyton (2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI) and two from senior Kris Goodman (2-for-4, 1 R).
“Our struggles continued with runners in scoring position,” said Heller. “As poorly as we pitched, we still had a chance, but we just didn’t get it done with runners in scoring position. We have to keep fighting through it.”
The Braves took an early lead, scoring three runs on a pair of hits in the second against UI starter Andrew Hedrick. Following a leadoff single, Hedrick got the first two puts before issuing a walk to Chris Godinez. Isaac Smith then delivered the big blow, connecting on a two-out, three-run home run to left field, giving Bradley a 3-0 lead.
Iowa clawed its way back, plating two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and one in the sixth to take a 4-3 advantage. Senior Jake Mangler started the rally in the fourth with a single before Peyton laced an RBI double right field to cut the lead to 3-1 and advanced to third on the throw. Peyton crossed the plate for Iowa’s second run, scoring on an RBI groundout from freshman Grant Klenovich.
Goodman got things started in the fifth with a one-out double to right field before scoring on a Bradley fielding error, tying the game at three. In the sixth, Klenovich drew a leadoff walk before pinch-runner Corbin Woods advanced to second on a wild pitch.
With one out, junior Daniel Aaron Moriel drew a four pitch walk and with two down, pinch hitter John Barrett laced an RBI double down the right field line, giving the Hawkeyes a 4-3 lead. Iowa left two runners stranded when Bradley pitcher David Koll got a strikeout to end the frame.
Koll (2-0) earned the win, allowing one run on one hit and fanning four in two innings. Matt Dennis threw the final 1 2/3 innings, scattering two hits, to pick up his sixth save of the season.
The Hawkeyes used five pitchers in the game, but it was Hibbing (1-1) suffering his first loss of the season after allowing one run on two hits in one inning.
Iowa (23-10) return to action Wednesday, hosting Cornell College at 6:05 p.m. (CT) at Banks Field.
