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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa baseball team fell, 10-2, to seventh-ranked Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Duane Banks Field. The loss evens the series at 1-1.
The Wolverines out-hit Iowa, 14-8, and the Hawkeyes committed a season-high four errors.
Iowa jumped out to a 2-0 run in the first courtesy of a two-run home run from junior Robert Neustrom. After Tyler Cropley drew a two-out walk, Neustrom hit a 380-foot blast to right field, giving Iowa an early lead.
From there it was all Michigan.
The Wolverines tied the game in the second inning against Iowa starter Brady Schanuel. Michigan loaded the bases before a fielding error allowing the first run to score. The Wolverines tied the game at two on an Ako Thomas sacrifice fly.
Michigan took the lead for good in the in the third on a solo home run from Jesse Franklin. The Wolverines tacked on two runs in the fourth and two in the fifth before putting the game out of reach with a three-run eighth.
Schanuel (5-6) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits over 3 1/3 innings. The Wolverines roughed up reliever Grant Judkins to the tune of four runs on six hits.
Michigan starter Ben Dragani (5-0) earned the win, scattering five hits and allowing two runs over six innings.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“We just have to wipe this one away. This is as bad as we’ve played all season long. There were a ton of free bases and not too much to look back upon that was really good. We weren’t great defensively and that doesn’t give your pitchers much hope. We just need to come out with a better effort tomorrow.”
OF NOTE…
- Iowa had a season-best crowd of 2,583 in attendance.
- Neustrom’s first-inning home run was his team-leading seventh of the season.
- It was just Iowa’s fourth loss this season when scoring first. The Hawkeyes fall to 11-4.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes (25-14, 8-7) will play a rubber match Sunday at 11 a.m. (CT).
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Stay up-to-date on all the happenings with the Iowa baseball program on social media via Twitter (@UIBaseball), Instagram/UIBaseball, and Facebook/IowaBaseball.
