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A baseball player wearing an Iowa uniform with the number 32 raises his hand in celebration while on the field.A baseball player wearing an Iowa uniform with the number 32 raises his hand in celebration while on the field.
Baseball

Hawkeyes Take Game 1 in Des Moines

The Iowa baseball team defeated Purdue, 10-7, in the first game of the series at Principal Park presented by 1-800-BETS OFF.

Box Score
DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team defeated Purdue, 10-7, in the first game of the series at Principal Park presented by 1-800-BETS OFF.

Purdue jumped out early, scoring in the top of the first inning and adding four more runs in the second frame to take a 5-0 lead.

“They jumped on us early, and you can see why they are who they are because they can really swing it,” said Coach Heller. “Hackett came in to calm things down, and Kyle pitched really well to close the game out. We had some guys step up and have big nights offensively as well, with Joey breaking out for a couple of home runs. It was good to see the guys respond and fight back.”

Iowa began its comeback in the bottom of the second and went on to score in four consecutive innings. In the second, redshirt junior Ben Swails singled up the middle to bring home redshirt sophomore Jaxien Frost. In the bottom of the third, senior Caleb Wulf doubled to right field to score senior Miles Risley.

Purdue added another run in the top of the fourth on a solo home run, but Iowa responded with a breakout inning in the bottom half, scoring five runs to take a 7-6 lead. Redshirt junior Kellen Strohmeyer doubled to left field to drive in Frost. Senior Joey Nerat then launched a two-run home run, followed immediately by a home run from senior Kooper Schulte. Risley capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to left center.

Iowa continued its offensive momentum in the bottom of the fifth when Nerat hit his second home run of the game, a three-run shot, to extend the lead to 10-6.

Purdue added a run in the top of the seventh, but Iowa held on to secure the win.

On the mound, junior Maddux Frese started and pitched two innings, followed by senior Justin Hackett, who also tossed two innings and earned the win. Redshirt freshman Kyle Alivo went five innings while allowing just four hits and striking out nine.

OF NOTE…
- This marks the second time Iowa has hit back-to-back home runs this season, the first coming on April 24 against Indiana.
- Coach Heller has recorded 11 30-win seasons in his 13-year tenure (all but the two COVID-19 impacted seasons).
- Alivo recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in the outing.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow for the second game of the series against Purdue at Principal Park. First pitch is set for 6:32 p.m. and will be broadcast on B1G+. Fans can also listen live on the Hawkeye Radio Network.