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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri State scored three runs in the first inning en route to an 8-3 victory over the University of Iowa baseball team on Wednesday afternoon at the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy.
The loss was the Hawkeyes’ fifth straight, dropping the team’s record to 8-6 heading into this weekend’s three-game home series against Evansville.
The Bears jumped on Iowa starter Jack Dreyer early with a three-run first inning. Preseason All-American Jeremy Eierman hit a two-run home run in the frame and Missouri State’s third run scored on an Iowa fielding error.
The Hawkeyes got two runs back in the bottom of the first against Bear starter Logan Wiley. Senior Matt Hoeg led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to left center field, and Lorenzo Elion’s RBI single cut the deficit to 3-2.
“Things didn’t start well for us, but we bounced back and had quality at-bats that entire first inning,” said Iowa head coach Rick Heller. “I felt good about the offense coming around today, but then we went five innings with not many quality at-bats and we couldn’t get anything going.”
Wiley (2-2) limited the Hawkeyes to three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings to earn his second win of the season. He had seven strikeouts in the outing.
Missouri State added to its lead with single runs in the third and fourth before scoring two in the fifth to open a 7-2 lead.
Iowa got one back and threatened for more in the sixth when Tyler Cropley and Austin Guzzo singled to start the inning. Cropley scored the final run on a wild pitch before MSU went to reliever Jake Fromson. Two Bear relievers limited Iowa to three hits over the final 2 1/3.
Dreyer (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) over 2 1/3 innings in his first career start. Iowa used seven pitchers in the game.
QUOTING IOWA COACH RICK HELLER
“Thanks to the Royals for giving us the opportunity to be the first Division I game at the Urban Youth Academy. It is an outstanding facility and it was a first-class event.”
“We never really threatened offensively today, which was disappointing on a nice day with the wind blowing out. With the way it started out, it looked like it was going to be a 10-8 or 12-11 game, but it didn’t end up that way.
“We have to get better; we had 13 free bases today — 12 on the mound — and that can’t happen. You’re not going to give yourself a chance to win games if that continues. We have to keep fighting and get better this weekend.”
OF NOTE…
- Hoeg’s leadoff home run was his first of the season. It was Iowa’s first leadoff home run since Chris Whelan hit a leadoff blast against Omaha last season.
- Iowa’s pitching staff punched out 13 Missouri State batters in the game, which matched a season-high. Dreyer had a career-high six strikeouts.
- Missouri State out-hit Iowa, 10-8, in the game and doubled up the Hawkeyes, 4-2, in extra-base hits.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action Friday, opening a three-game weekend series against Evansville. Game time is set for 4:05 p.m. (CT) from Duane Banks Field.
