WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A seven-run eighth inning sent the University of Iowa baseball team to an 8-5 series-clinching victory over Purdue on Sunday afternoon at Alexander Field.
The Hawkeyes have won five of their last six games to improve to 9-9 overall and the team has posted back-to-back winning weekends.
After going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the first seven innings, the Hawkeyes finally broke through in the eighth. Iowa loaded the bases via a Ben Norman double, a Peyton Williams intentional walk, and an Austin Martin hit by pitch. Then the hits started coming.
Redshirt junior Matthew Sosa’s RBI single gave Iowa the 2-1 lead, and redshirt junior Trenton Wallace then walked to force in a run to make it 3-1. After Purdue brought in reliever Kyle Wade, redshirt junior Izaya Fullard welcomed the hurler with an RBI single to left field and redshirt junior Dylan Nedved doubled in two more runs to make it 6-1.
T8 | OUR BATS ARE ALIVE! @d_ned25 doubles to the warning track in LC… 2 more runs score!
It’s 6-1 #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/mvgyGSZgkK
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 4, 2021
Redshirt senior Zeb Adreon kept the hit train rolling with an RBI single to right field, extending the lead to 7-1 and Norman’s sacrifice fly plated the seventh run of the inning.
Purdue added a single run in the eighth off reliever Duncan Davitt before Nedved entered to get out of the eighth. The Boilermakers scored three more in the ninth off Nedved, but Iowa prevailed.
The Hawkeyes struck first in the third inning when Norman doubled, advanced to third on a fly out and scored on a wild pitch. Purdue tied the game in the fourth with back-to-back doubles from Miles Simington and Cam Thompson.
Redshirt junior Cam Baumann was strong in the start, allowing one run on five hits over five innings in the no-decision. Davitt (3-1) earned the win, tossing 2 1/3 innings of relief. He allowed one run on four hits.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“Cam gave us a good start. He pitched well and we planned on splitting it up with he and Duncan Davitt. Cam gave us five solid innings.
“We struggled offensively with their starter. In the eighth, they went to the bullpen and we broke out. Dylan had a nice day. It was good to see, we kept plugging away and playing good defense. Dylan came in to close it out and Purdue didn’t quit, and they fought to the end. They made things interesting and we held on. It was good to get a series win.”
OF NOTE
– Redshirt freshman Peyton Williams reached in all five of his plate appearances with four walks and a hit by pitch. The four walks ties a school record last set by Norman last season against Georgetown.
– Nedved gave up three runs in the ninth – his first of the season. The right-hander opened the season with 14 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
– At the plate, Nedved went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. It was his first three-hit game of the season.
– Freshman Michael Seegers had his first collegiate hit, singling in the ninth.
UP NEXT
Iowa returns to action April 9, opening a three-game home series against Minnesota. Friday’s first pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. (CT) from Banks Field, and the game will be televised on BTN.
