LINCOLN, Nebraska – The University of Iowa baseball team split a pair of games with Nebraska on Sunday afternoon at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park. Iowa lost the first game, 12-2, in seven innings before winning the nightcap, 4-1.
The Hawkeyes and Huskers finished the suspended game that was stopped yesterday due to lightning in the area before playing the third game of the series.
“I just can’t say enough about our kids’ resilience,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Hanging in there and sitting around here for six hours before the other game started and didn’t die. It’s not easy to do that.”
In game two of the series yesterday, Iowa took the lead with a home run in the third, but Nebraska responded tying the game in the bottom half. The Huskers would take the lead scoring three runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth before the game was halted.
After resuming the game today, the teams traded runs in the sixth before Nebraska scored three runs in the seventh to end the game.
Aaron Savary made the start for Iowa in game two throwing three innings. He allowed four runs on five hits while striking out three. Five different Hawkeye pitchers threw out of the bullpen to finish the final 6 2/3 innings allowing eight runs on nine hits.
Michael Seegers was 2-for-3 with an RBI and five Iowa batters recorded a hit in the contest. Blake Guerin had a double and Ben Wilmes had a solo home run.
In the third and final game of the series the Hawkeyes got out to a 2-0 lead through two innings before Nebraska plated their lone run in the fourth. Iowa added a run in both the fifth and the sixth to put the game away.
Brody Brecht started on the mound for Iowa in game three and recorded his second straight quality start. Brecht threw 7 innings allowing two hits and one run. He struck out 11 Huskers while walking three.
“That was much needed after the weekend to that point,” said Heller. “He did a great job for the most part to pound the strike zone. He was in control pretty much the entire game. It was good to see him locate his fastball today.”
Jack Young closed out the game throwing a perfect final two innings and striking out four.
Raider Tello was 3-for-4 with a home run and Gable Mitchell also added a home run for the Hawkeyes. Davis Cop tallied an RBI for Iowa.
“We left some out there,” said Heller. “We didn’t execute very well offensively tonight. We had some bad at bats with runners in scoring position and chased out of the zone, but we survived. We scored enough and hey, I’m happy.”
The Hawkeyes return to action at home on Tuesday against Illinois State at 6:05 p.m. (CT) at Duane Banks Field.