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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Sophomore Jack Dreyer fanned 10 and the University of Iowa baseball scored 10 runs on 11 hits to notch its first victory of the season — a 10-1 triumph over Pittsburgh on Saturday at Osceola Heritage Park Stadium.
Junior Ben Norman paced Iowa’s offense early, hitting a two-run homer to right field to put Iowa ahead 2-0 in the second inning and he added a two-run double to left center in the top of the third, and the Hawkeyes never looked back. The Des Moines, Iowa, native went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases.
The Hawkeyes added to their lead in the fourth when designated hitter Tanner Padgett drove in Mitchell Boe on a two-out RBI single down the third base line. Padgett finished with three hits from the four-hole.
Dreyer (1-0) put an exclamation point on his second career weekend start when he escaped the bottom of the fifth unscathed. A leadoff walk, followed by a single, put two runners on with Pitt’s top of the order looming.
The southpaw proceeded to retire the Panthers and get out of the jam unscathed with three straight strikeouts. Dreyer finished the day, going 5 1/3 shutout innings and surrendering two hit. The 10 strikeouts are a career-high.
Dreyer left the game with a 5-0 Iowa lead, and the Hawkeyes continued to add on.
In the top of the seventh, Iowa scored two runs. In his first career start, junior Matthew Sosa recorded his second RBI of the game on a liner to right in the seventh inning with two outs. Sosa finished with three RBIs after walking with the bases loaded in the eighth.
Senior Shane Ritter pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, striking out two after relieving Ben Probst, who also struck out two batters in relief.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“I’m proud of our team. We bounced back from yesterday and came out today with good energy. We played well in all facets of the game. I loved our at-bats up-and-down the lineup; we had hardly any chases all day long. Ben Norman had a big game with three hits, four RBIs, and his first home run of the year. It was great to see him break out. He has been swinging it well in training leading into the season. Tanner Padgett had three hits. We had a lot of guys that had quality at-bats today.
“We cleaned the defense up. Jack Dreyer did a tremendous job, giving us a great start. He went deep into the game in his first start, which was great to see. It was a great day overall; I was happy to see how our guys responded after a tough loss yesterday.”
OF NOTE…
- Today’s win marked the second straight year with a win over an Atlantic Coast Conference foe. Iowa beat Virginia Tech, 2-1, last season.
- Seven of Iowa’s 10 runs were scored with two outs.
- Norman and Padgett had three hits each. Norman went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Padgett went 3-for-4 with one RBI.
- Senior Mitchell Boe reached base four times in five plate appearances, walking three times.
- Third baseman Matthew Sosa made his Hawkeye debut.
- Iowa’s pitching staff fanned 15, its second straight game with 10 or more strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes conclude play at the Diamond 9 Sunshine Classic tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. (CT) against Marshall. Right-handed pitcher Grant Judkins will start on the mound for Iowa.
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.
