April 5, 2015
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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Junior Calvin Mathews threw six innings of one-run ball to lead the No. 24 University of Iowa baseball team to a 4-1 victory over Purdue to complete the series sweep Sunday at Alexander Field. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 in the Big Ten for the first time in program history.
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The series win was Iowa’s fifth of the season and the Hawkeyes’ third three-game sweep. Iowa has swept back-to-back Big Ten series over No. 17 Indiana and Purdue to improve its record to 21-7 overall.
“It is a nice start for us,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “We did exactly what we needed to do if we’re going to make a run at (the Big Ten title) and stay in the race.”
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Mathews threw five innings of shutout ball before surrendering a one-out solo blast in the sixth. The right-hander scattered five hits, fanned five, and issued only one walk to improve to 3-0 this season.
“Calvin was outstanding,” said Heller. “He was back to his old self. He looked in sync and was locating on both sides of the plate, changing speeds like he does when he’s at his best.”
After tallying one hit the first time through the batting order, the Hawkeyes manufactured the game’s first run in the fourth. Senior Eric Toole led off the frame with a single to right field before moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Jake Mangler. Junior Tyler Peyton came through, delivering an RBI single to left field to give Iowa a 1-0 lead.
Iowa pushed its lead to 2-0 an inning later on one hit and a Boilermaker error. Joel Booker led off the frame reaching on a hit by pitch before junior Eric Schenck-Joblinske reached on a Harry Shipley error at shortstop. The Hawkeyes capitalized, using an RBI single from junior Nick Roscetti to double their advantage.
After the Boilermakers cut the lead in half on a Kyle Wood solo home run in the bottom of the sixth, Iowa scored insurance runs in the seventh and ninth innings.
Roscetti started things off in the seventh with a one-out double to left field and scored on a two-out RBI double from Peyton down the left field line. Schenck-Joblinske led off the ninth with a hit by pitch before moving into scoring position on a Roscetti sacrifice. Toole brought him home with an RBI double into the right centerfield gap, pushing the Iowa lead to 4-1.
Junior Connor Grant threw 1 1/3 shutout innings in relief, before turning the ball over to senior Nick Hibbing with one out in the eighth. Hibbing allowed one hit over the final 1 2/3 en route to his second save of the season.
Iowa mustered nine hits in the game with four players accounting for eight of the nine hits. Peyton finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Roscetti was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Toole was 2-for-4 with a run and RBI, extending his reached base streak to 27 games, and Daniel Aaron Moriel was 2-for-4.
Purdue starter Matt Frawley (1-5) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings.
Iowa (21-7, 6-0) hosts Milwaukee on Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. (CT) at Banks Field before heading to College Park for a key three-game Big Ten series at No. 17 Maryland.
“It’s going to be a battle for us, but I know we’re looking forward to it,” said Heller.
