IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team defeated Western Illinois, 11-1, in eight innings on Friday evening at Duane Banks Field.
The Hawkeyes got a big performance from Gable Mitchell who went 4-for-5 with five RBIs including a game winning single in the eighth inning to complete the run rule victory.
Reese Moore was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Kyle Huckstorf had an RBI and three runs scored. Andy Nelson, Sam Petersen and Raider Tello each also tallied an RBI for the Hawkeyes.
“After the first time through the order I thought we were fantastic,” said head coach Rick Heller. “We executed at a high rate, we won every three two count and we scored. Gable Mitchell had a really big game.”
Brody Brecht got the start on the mound for Iowa. He threw four innings and allowed one run on four hits, while striking out eight and walking six.
The Hawkeye bullpen was lights out allowing no runs on three hits and striking out four. They did not allow a free base in the final four innings of the contest.
Jack Young entered with the bases loaded and no outs and got a flyout before inducing a double play to earn the win.
“It was huge,” said Rick Heller. “We didn’t have one free base out of the bullpen, and that was outstanding. Jack Young’s performance with the bases loaded, bailing Brody out, that was to me the key to this game.”
Young, Chas Wheatley and Benjamin DeTaeye each pitched an inning without allowing a hit. Ganon Archer scattered three hits in his inning of work.
The Hawkeyes conclude the three-game series with Western Illinois with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at Noon (CT).