OMAHA, Neb. – The fifth-seeded University of Iowa baseball team fell to No. 4 seeded Michigan, 3-2, in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon at Charles Schwab Field.
The Hawkeyes outhit the Wolverines, 10-6.
“It is frustrating for us when they beat us 3-2 and didn’t have a hit to score any of those runs,” said head coach Rick Heller. “They were all from free bases. We had the wild pitch that we throw away with two outs that scores two runs and then we walk in a run to end the game.”
The Hawkeyes got on the board in the second inning after Michael Seegers doubled in Ben Wilmes from first.
Michigan loaded the bases in the sixth inning and two runs came around to score on a wild pitch and an error.
Iowa tied the game in the top of the seventh after Will Mulflur drew a walk and Wilmes doubled him in.
The teams would remain even until a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 10th inning plated a run for the Wolverines and ended the game.
“We couldn’t get it going offensively,” said Heller. “Anything that we did do happened late. We couldn’t get lead-off guys, to try to make things happen and put some pressure on them. We had a couple opportunities to execute, and we didn’t get that done either. It cost us, and it cost us big.”
Brody Brecht got the start on the mound for Iowa. He threw 7 1/3 innings and allowed four hits and two runs (one earned). He struck out 10 and walked two.
Jack Young threw 1 1/3 innings and allowed one run. He struck out three, walked three and allowed two hits.
Seegers was 3-for-4 and Wilmes and Davis Cop each tallied two hits for the Hawkeyes.
The Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. (CT) for an elimination game against the No. 1 seed Illinois Fighting Illini at Charles Schwab Field.