Hawkeyes Split Doubleheader at Michigan State

EAST LANSING, Mich. – University of Iowa baseball split its doubleheader at Michigan State on Saturday. The Hawkeyes lost game one of the twinbill, 15-5, in eight innings. The Hawkeyes responded with an 8-3 victory in the series finale.

Iowa moved to 14-8 and 3-3 in the Big Ten after Saturday’s games.

Game 1

Senior Logan Runde started the opening game of the day and surrendered six runs in two innings. Freshmen Tate Slagle and Cole Moore pitched scoreless innings out of the bullpen and combined for five strikeouts. 

Michigan State sprinted out to a 6-0 lead after scoring four runs in the first and single runs in the second and third innings. Iowa got on the board in the fourth on an RBI single from senior Caleb Wulf. The Spartans struck for five more in the sixth and widened their lead to 11-1 heading into the seventh. 

With two outs in the seventh, senior Matthew Delgado drove a home run to left field. The Hawkeyes added two more runs in the eighth when senior Joey Nerat brought home Mitch Wood and Wulf on a triple.

"In game one, we fell behind early," head coach Rick Heller said. "Logan Runde had a bad start and we were down four in the first inning and six runs after the second. It's tough to come back from that and we didn't. Matthew Delgado was the bright spot with a single and homer."

Michigan State ultimately walked off the Hawkeyes with a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth.

Game 2

In game two, Iowa responded early and struck for two runs in the first inning. In his collegiate debut, redshirt freshman Carter Geffre crushed a double to the right center gap and drove home Miles Risley and Wulf. 

The scoring continued for Iowa in the third when Risley hit a leadoff home run. After Wulf singled, Geffre hit a towering home run to left and Iowa pushed its lead to 5-0. Redshirt junior Kellen Strohmeyer bounced into a fielder’s choice, which scored Nerat to cap the scoring in the third inning. 

After Michigan State responded with two runs in the bottom of the third, Iowa’s offense tacked on two runs in the fifth. As Schulte stole second base, Strohmeyer came down from third and scored on a poor throw by the Spartan shortstop. Senior Gable Mitchell ripped a double into the left field corner, which scored Schulte.

Geffre finished the game 4-for-5 with a double and home run and four RBI. 

"Carter, in his first game as a Hawkeye, had a huge day with four hits, including a double, home run and four RBIs," Heller added. "It was great to have him in the lineup."

The offense provided plenty of early run support for redshirt freshman Kyle Alivo, who pitched four innings in his first start.  Alivo closed his line allowing three hits and two runs, while striking out three and walking three. Maddux Frese earned the win after relieving Alivo in the fifth. Frese pitched 3.1 innings and gave up four hits and one run. Graduate Joe Husak closed the door, securing the final five outs and fanning two Spartans.

"In game two, Kyle gave us a good start and the offense gave him a lead to work with by scoring two in the first and four in the third," Heller continued. "The last four innings were the opposite, as we didn't execute and stranded a bunch of runners with some really poor at bats. Maddux Frese and Joe Husak both pitched well out of the bullpen. After a disappointing weekend, getting game three was big."

Iowa was active on the basepaths and stole a school record 12 bases in the series finale. Strohmeyer’s five stolen bases tied the most by a player in school history set in 1979 by Lance Platz. 

Of Note

• Iowa’s 12 stolen bases were the most in school history, surpassing 10 set against Loras in 1980.
• Kellen Strohmeyer's five stolen bases ties Lance Platz at Purdue in 1979 for the most in school history. 
• This was Iowa’s first doubleheader of the season and first twinbill since March 28 last season at Minnesota.
• Catcher Carter Geffre made his debut and led Iowa with four hits and four RBI.
• Maddux Frese picked up his first win of the season.
• Miles Risley’s home run to lead off the third inning was his first of the season.

Up Next: Iowa travels to Normal, Ill., for a midweek contest at Illinois State on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. (CT).