JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 18th-ranked University of Iowa baseball team fell to Wichita State, 12-6, on Sunday afternoon at 121 Financial Park.
The Hawkeyes opened the scoring in the second inning, plating four runs. With the bases loaded, Andy Nelson sent a ground ball through the left side to bring home two runs. Ben Wilmes and Sam Petersen collected back-to-back RBI singles to hang the crooked number on Wichita State.
In the fifth inning, the Hawkeyes created traffic on the basepaths via a pair of walks and a double. Kyle Huckstorf drove in Raider Tello on a sacrifice fly to left to give Iowa a 5-0 lead.
Cade Obermueller got the start on the mound, dealing five scoreless innings and striking out six. The Iowa City, Iowa, native allowed just three hits and induced two double plays. Five relievers saw action in the finale. Sam Hart was the final Iowa pitcher to enter the game and held Wichita State scoreless over the course of 1 1/3 innings.
The Shockers got on the scoreboard in the sixth with a pinch-hit three-run home run to slice into the deficit. Wichita State scored five more runs in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead. Ultimately, the Shockers would score 12 of the next 13 runs and the Hawkeyes would not be able to mount a comeback.
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes (3-4) return home to host Northern Illinois on Tuesday, Feb. 27. First pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m. (CT) at Duane Banks Field.