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LAS VEGAS — The University of Iowa baseball team was limited to six hits by five Rebel pitchers as 23rd-ranked UNLV won the opening game of the weekend series, 4-0, on Friday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
Starter Alan Strong (3-0) scattered four hits over 5 1/3 innings and four UNLV relievers limited the Hawkeyes to a pair of hits as the Rebels improved to 13-2. Closer Bryan Menendez got the final three outs in the ninth to record his fifth save of the season.
The Rebels grabbed the early advantage, pushing three of their four runs across the plate in the first two innings. UNLV had three hits in the first inning, including an RBI single from Nick Rodriguez to take a 1-0 lead. The Rebels had two more hits in the second, including a two-run double from Dillon Johnson, making the score 3-0.
Iowa starter Nick Allgeyer (1-1) settled down, allowing two hits over the next four innings, but the Hawkeyes couldn’t get their offense going for a second straight
game.
The Hawkeyes loaded the bases in the fourth inning with two singles and a walk, but the team came away empty when Ben Norman punched out to end the inning. Iowa stranded runners in four of the final five frames, leaving eight runners on in the game.
Allgeyer suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. He had five strikeouts to two walks. Freshman Cam Baumann didn’t allow a run in the eighth, getting out of a bases-loaded, nobody out jam without any further damage.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“We ran into a team that’s feeling really good offensively and we did a pretty good job of holding them down, they’re a pretty potent offense. We had chances on offense and better at-bats, but just didn’t get the clutch hit. We played well and competed, we’re going to come out tomorrow and keep fighting. Hopefully they’ll start falling for us.”
OF NOTE
- Senior Austin Guzzo had two of Iowa’s six hits on the day. It was Guzzo’s first multi-hit game of the season.
- Iowa hasn’t scored a run in its last two games (18 innings).
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes (8-3) return to action tomorrow for game two against UNLV. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. (CT).
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