IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team (4-7) dropped its rubber match against Nebraska (7-4), 13-8, on Sunday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.
The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 3-1 lead after the first inning thanks to a three-run home run from freshman designated hitter Tyler Snep, but Nebraska scored six runs in the second inning to take control of the game, before tacking on five more runs late to win the season series, 3-2.
“We didn’t pitch very well today,” head coach Rick Heller said. “That’s the story. We didn’t have any shutdown innings after we scored. We put too many guys on base, fell behind in the count, and they made us a pay.”
Three of Nebraska’s first four hitters recorded extra-base hits to start the second inning to tie the game at three. Following a Jackson Hallmark single, Iowa starting pitcher Duncan Davitt was relieved of his duties by redshirt freshman Jacob Henderson, who wasn’t able to record an out, allowing the Huskers to take a 6-3 lead on a Max Anderson two-RBI single
Redshirt junior pitcher Cam Baumann replaced Henderson and pitched the next three and 1/3 innings. Baumann allowed only one run (unearned) on one hit and three walks. Eight Hawkeye pitchers allowed 11 hits – only four for extra bases – and issued eight walks to only seven strikeouts.
Trailing 11-4 in the sixth inning, redshirt senior Ben Norman stroked his second home run of the series and third of the year to right center field, scoring redshirt senior Matthew Sosa, to bring Iowa’s deficit to just five.
Following Nebraska’s two-run seventh inning, Iowa entered the eighth inning with a 13-6 deficit. With one out in the bottom of the eighth after back-to-back singles to start the inning, Norman blasted what would have been his second home run of the game, but his home run was negated after passing redshirt junior Dylan Nedved on the base paths.
Norman was credited with two RBIs to tie a career-best four RBIs, but was called out, shutting down a possible rally from the Hawkeyes in the eighth.
Redshirt sophomore Ben Probst and redshirt senior Grant Leonard pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“We have to keep plugging away on the offensive side. Our top guys need to come through if this team is going to have a chance to win a lot of games. We fought back and had better at-bats. We’re going to keep fighting and the next guy in has to do their job.”
OF NOTE
- Snep reached based in all five plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a single, and a career-high three walks. Snep also set a new career high with three RBIs.
- Norman has homered in three of his last four games and leads the team with three home runs.
- Three other Hawkeyes – Norman, Nedved, and redshirt senior Austin Martin – recorded multi-hit games.
- Iowa hitters drew eight walks to tie a season high.
UP NEXT
Iowa travels to Columbus, Ohio, next weekend for two games against Ohio State and two against Maryland. The Hawkeyes open the weekend against the Buckeyes on Friday at 6 p.m. (CT). All games will be streamed on B1G Network+.
