IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team defeated Michigan State, 8-6, to clinch the three-game series on Saturday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.
After a 1:15 minute rain delay during the fifth inning Michigan State tied the game, 5-5. The Hawkeyes put up three in the eighth to pull away and claim the win.
“We needed to find a way to win a game like that against a really good team,” said head coach Rick Heller. “A lot of the wins here in the last few weeks we have scored a ton of runs. We haven’t won one like that in a long time. Where you had to make pitches. Every pitch mattered late in the game. Had to find a way to score a couple runs late.”
Ty Langenberg got the start throwing five innings of two run ball. Aaron Savary pitched an inning allowing a run.
Will Christophersen earned the win throwing two innings and striking out three. Luke Llewellyn threw the final frame and earned the save.
Brennen Dorighi led the Hawkeyes with a 2-for-4 day hitting two home runs and bringing home three RBIs. Ben Wilmes was 2-for-4 with a home run and a pair of RBIs.
“The balance is just awesome,” said Heller. “You don’t have to rely on a couple guys to get it done. Cade in the nine hole gets that inning started. The top picked us up today, they didn’t do a lot last night, the middle part of the lineup really got it done last night. Dorighi obviously had a big game with the two home runs. Wilmes had a really good game today both offensively and defensively.”
Sam Hojnar was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, and Sam Petersen was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
OF NOTE
- Iowa improves to 36-12 on the season and 12-7 in Big Ten play.
- The Hawkeyes are 21-3 at Duane Banks Field. That is the second most-in a single season trailing only the 22 wins in 1977.
- This was the second game this season for Brennen Dorighi with two home runs bringing his total to 12. It is the third multi home run game of his career.
- Dorighi has 20 RBIs in his last 10 games.
- The Spartans outhit the Hawkeyes, 10-9, it is the first win for Iowa when being out hit this season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes and Spartans wrap up the series tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. (CT) at Duane Banks Field.