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By JAMES ALLAN
hawkeyesports.com
SANTO DOMINGO, D.R. — Escogido — a Dominican Winter League team — limited the University of Iowa baseball team to four hits in a 5-1 victory Tuesday morning at Quisqueya Stadium.
Escogido had five players competing with Major League Baseball experience. The Hawkeyes faced Ben Paulsen (Colorado), Esteban German (Oakland, Texas, Kansas City), Lew Ford (Minnesota, Baltimore), Enerio Del Rosario (Cincinnati, Houston), and Robinson Diaz (Toronto, Pittsburgh).
“It was a fun day,” said UI head coach Rick Heller. “We played better than we did yesterday; we competed. We played against a good team. It was fun for our guys to compete against high-level pro guys and several Major Leaguers.
“We were in the game the whole way; most of the runs they scored were on our mistakes. We had the bases loaded and scored a run, but we couldn’t get the hit to get back in it when it was 3-1. Overall it was a fun day in a great stadium and I appreciate them playing us. It was something our guys will remember forever.”
Escogido jumped out to an early lead against Iowa starter C.J. Eldred, scoring two runs on six hits in the first two innings. Eldred then retired the side in order in the third and pitched around an error in the fourth.
Trailing 3-0 through five, the Hawkeyes put together an offensive rally in the sixth. Junior Zach Fricke singled to lead off the inning and Iowa loaded the bases following an Escogido error and walk. Junior Jake Adams followed with an RBI single to get the Hawkeyes on the board.
Escogido avoided further damage, getting a pop out, strikeout, and ground out to end the inning.
Escogido tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth against senior reliever Josh Martsching. The team had three hits in the inning, including an RBI double by Diaz.
Iowa will enjoy an off day Wednesday where it will travel to Saona Island for an all-day excursion. The Hawkeyes round out play in the Dominican on Thanksgiving, facing the Kansas City Royals Academy team at 8:30 a.m. (CT).
