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SAN DIEGO — The University of Iowa baseball team dropped its first game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament, 4-1, to San Diego State, after the Hawkeyes gave up three runs in the seventh with two outs on Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
“Our guys came out and played well,” head coach Rick Heller said. “Two good pitchers going at it. Jack (Dreyer) pitched extremely well. Unfortunately, three of their four runs came via free bases. It was one of those Friday night games that if you make mistakes, it puts you in a bad spot.”
It was a pitcher’s duel for the first seven and a half innings.
Iowa’s starter – redshirt sophomore Jack Dreyer (1-1) – allowed only one run on three hits through the first six innings, including a streak of 10 straight batters retired. After retiring the first two batters of the seventh, the Johnston, Iowa native, issued his only two walks of the game, forcing Coach Heller to go to the bullpen.
He called upon senior right-hander Trace Hoffman to work out of the jam. The Cascade, Iowa native, induced three groundballs, but all three found holes for base hits. Two close plays at the plate didn’t fall Iowa’s way, and the Aztecs took control of the game with a three-run seventh inning.
Two of the runs were charged to Dreyer, with the final run charged to Hoffman. Dreyer finished with five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
San Diego State’s starter Michael Parades was effective on the mound, too. He allowed only one run on three hits over six innings, while striking out seven, to stifle Iowa’s offense.
Sophomore infielder Brendan Sher had one of his team-best three singles off Parades. Iowa recorded six hits on the night, plating one run in the third after senior outfielder Ben Norman led off the third inning with a triple. He later scored on an Izaya Fullard sacrifice fly.
Iowa had the game-tying run up to bat in the eighth and ninth innings, but the comeback effort came up short.
OF NOTE…
- Sher’s three hits tonight tied a career high and were the fourth game he’s done so. With a 3-for-4 effort tonight, Sher leads Iowa with a .500 batting average (6-for-12).
- Norman recorded Iowa’s first triple of the season.
- Redshirt sophomore Jack Guzek mad his Hawkeye debut in relief and senior Adam Ketelsen made his first appearance of the season in the eighth inning.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes play their second game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament against No. 22 Arizona tomorrow at 3 p.m. (CT). The game will be played at University of San Diego’s Fowler Park.
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.
