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Iowa baseball (28-12, 18-4 Big Ten) opened its three-game weekend series vs. Indiana (23-18, 12-9) with an instant classic as the Hawkeyes secured a 2-1 extra innings victory over the Hoosiers on a 10th inning walk-off safety squeeze play by Blake Guerin.
Cade Obermueller (4-2, 2.42 ERA) started on the mound for Iowa as he threw 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits while walking four and striking out six. Chas Wheatley (2-0, 2.65 ERA) entered the game as Indiana threatened to score with two outs in the fifth frame, but he earned a strikeout to escape the inning and keep Iowa's deficit at one. Wheatley would pitch 1 1/3 innings and strike out two, yielding one hit and one walk.
After Wheatley walked the leadoff batter in the eighth inning, Brant Hogue (2-1, 2.75 ERA) came into pitch. Hogue struck out six batters over 2 1/3 innings to keep the Hawkeyes in the game.
Anthony Watts (4-2, 3.82 ERA) entered the game with one out in the 10th and forced a lineout and flyout to keep the game tied. Watts would be given the win as the Hawkeyes scored to walk off Indiana in the bottom of the inning.
"I think Hogue was outstanding," said head coach Rick Heller. "We really didn't want to have to go to Watts tonight unless we absolutely had to or had a lead before the ninth. Tony came in and did the job."
Regarding the scoring, the Hoosiers took a 1-0 lead in the first after an RBI single up the middle, which held until the bottom of the sixth frame when Daniel Rogers tied the game up with a solo shot to right field.
"Rogers had a great night tonight," said Heller. "He's really seeing the ball well and smoking the ball. We put the hit-and-run on, and he came through."
After Miles Risley walked in the 10th, Rogers' single to right field advanced him into scoring position at third. With one out and Hawkeyes occupying the corners, Blake Guerin laid a perfect bunt down the first-base line that allowed Risley to score the winning run.
"It was a slider, and I pushed it a little too hard and didn't let myself try and get it down," said Guerin of his bunt attempt on the first pitch of the at-bat. "So, then I was ready to go, ready to put the ball in play and try and score Ris in that situation. Thankfully, they gave me the bunt sign again, and I was ready for it that second time."
"Blake's a smart player," said Heller. "It's really not as risky of a play as you might think because if it's a ball, you can just pull it back. I thought it would be a good opportunity for Blake to get it down. He's a very good bunter. People probably think he isn't because he's a big guy, but he's a great bunter. I just felt really good that he would get it down if it was a strike."
Iowa outhit Indiana by a 9-4 margin while the Hawkeyes left 10 runners on base compared to the Hoosiers' 13.
Both teams will continue their three-game conference series today with Game 2 starting at 2:02 p.m. CT from Duane Banks Field and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus (subscription required). Fans can also follow along through the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews.
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa baseball wins series opener vs Indiana in extra innings
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Cade Obermueller (4-2, 2.42 ERA) started on the mound for Iowa as he threw 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits while walking four and striking out six. Chas Wheatley (2-0, 2.65 ERA) entered the game as Indiana threatened to score with two outs in the fifth frame, but he earned a strikeout to escape the inning and keep Iowa's deficit at one. Wheatley would pitch 1 1/3 innings and strike out two, yielding one hit and one walk.
After Wheatley walked the leadoff batter in the eighth inning, Brant Hogue (2-1, 2.75 ERA) came into pitch. Hogue struck out six batters over 2 1/3 innings to keep the Hawkeyes in the game.
Anthony Watts (4-2, 3.82 ERA) entered the game with one out in the 10th and forced a lineout and flyout to keep the game tied. Watts would be given the win as the Hawkeyes scored to walk off Indiana in the bottom of the inning.
"I think Hogue was outstanding," said head coach Rick Heller. "We really didn't want to have to go to Watts tonight unless we absolutely had to or had a lead before the ninth. Tony came in and did the job."
Regarding the scoring, the Hoosiers took a 1-0 lead in the first after an RBI single up the middle, which held until the bottom of the sixth frame when Daniel Rogers tied the game up with a solo shot to right field.
"Rogers had a great night tonight," said Heller. "He's really seeing the ball well and smoking the ball. We put the hit-and-run on, and he came through."
After Miles Risley walked in the 10th, Rogers' single to right field advanced him into scoring position at third. With one out and Hawkeyes occupying the corners, Blake Guerin laid a perfect bunt down the first-base line that allowed Risley to score the winning run.
"It was a slider, and I pushed it a little too hard and didn't let myself try and get it down," said Guerin of his bunt attempt on the first pitch of the at-bat. "So, then I was ready to go, ready to put the ball in play and try and score Ris in that situation. Thankfully, they gave me the bunt sign again, and I was ready for it that second time."
"Blake's a smart player," said Heller. "It's really not as risky of a play as you might think because if it's a ball, you can just pull it back. I thought it would be a good opportunity for Blake to get it down. He's a very good bunter. People probably think he isn't because he's a big guy, but he's a great bunter. I just felt really good that he would get it down if it was a strike."
Iowa outhit Indiana by a 9-4 margin while the Hawkeyes left 10 runners on base compared to the Hoosiers' 13.
Both teams will continue their three-game conference series today with Game 2 starting at 2:02 p.m. CT from Duane Banks Field and will be broadcast on Big Ten Plus (subscription required). Fans can also follow along through the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews.
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa baseball wins series opener vs Indiana in extra innings
Continue reading...
