Hawkeyes Pounce On Panthers

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team beat Milwaukee, 11-6, on Tuesday evening at Duane Banks Field.

"It was good to get to play today," said head coach Rick Heller. "I was a little worried over the weekend when I saw the forecast in Milwaukee. We were fortunate that Shaun and their staff agreed it was the right thing to do to come down."

Iowa batted .351 overall and .304 with runners on base, totaling 14 hits to Milwaukee's seven. 

An RBI SAC fly from Miles Risley put Iowa on the board in the first. The Hawkeyes scored three more in the third frame on a Risley RBI double down the left field line, a Tyler Guerin RBI fielder's choice and a wild pitch. Iowa added to its lead in the next inning when Reese Moore hit an RBI double to the right field wall.

The Hawkeyes (21-10, 12-3) poured on four more in the fifth as Blake Guerin clobbered his seventh home run of the season. Kellen Strohymer then went opposite field for a three-run bomb off the scoreboard. It was Strohmeyer's second-career home run. Two more Hawkeyes came home in the seventh when Daniel Rogers hit an RBI SAC fly and Andy Nelson slapped an RBI single. 

Gable Mitchell, Kooper Schulte, Strohmeyer and Moore all had multi-hit games, led by Strohmeyer with three. Mitchell went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and three runs scored. Schulte went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

"There were really some bright spots today," said Heller. "Strohmeyer had a great game. There's guys on the team that have been caught in between not being able to go because this guy is playing well or this guy is playing well. Strohmeyer has played well all the times he's been out there, he just hasn't been out there a lot. It felt like today was the day to give him the chance to play the whole game and get out there and go, and I'm glad we made that decision."

Jaron Bleeker started on the mound for Iowa. The right-hander escaped a bases loaded jam with a double play in the first inning and then settled in, retiring Milwaukee in order in the second. He walked two batters and gave up one hit in two innings of work. Chas Wheatley was credited with the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. He struck out two Panthers and walked one over one inning.

"If I'm in that bullpen, I'm thinking there's some spots to be had, and I'm going to jump up and grab it," said Heller. "That's what you're hoping for in these midweek games is that if you're not getting the innings you want or your role isn't what you expect or like or whatever, here's an opporutnity to say, 'Give me a shot."

Seven other Iowa pitchers took the hill throughout the game. Justin Hackett struck out the side in his lone inning of work. Anthony Watts did the same in the ninth to clinch the victory.

"It was really a tale of two games in one," said Heller. "The first five innings I thought were outstanding. The last four really weren't. We made some mistakes and didn't pitch great at times. I was hoping we didn't have to use Watts, but we got to a point where we had to."

The Hawkeye pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts, gave up six free bases and allowed three earned runs. Milwaukee (9-21, 7-4) scored two runs in the sixth and four in the eighth.

Up Next

The Hawkeyes will be back home this weekend for a three-game series against Nebraska on April 11-13. First pitch is set for 6:02 p.m. (CDT) on Friday. The game will be broadcast on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.