UI Athletics news release
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa baseball team fell to Lindenwood, 4-3, on a cold and windy Saturday afternoon at Duane Banks Field. The Hawkeyes drop to 9-5 overall.
Senior Logan Runde took the mound for the Hawkeyes, working 4.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits, and striking out five. Redshirt freshman Kyle Alivo took the loss in relief, pitching 1.1 innings, while allowing two runs on one hit and striking out one.
“We scored a couple runs early in the third on a day when scoring runs wasn’t easy,” said head coach Rick Heller. “We got a good start out of Logan. He ran out of gas in the fifth inning.”
The Hawkeyes struck first when senior Caleb Wulf singled through the left side and senior Mitch Wood drew a walk. Senior Joey Nerat followed with a two-run triple to deep center field, scoring Wulf and Wood and giving the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead. The Hawkeyes added to their lead in the fourth inning when senior Gable Mitchell singled to left field. Junior Kooper Schulte then singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Mitchell from second base.
The Lions responded with two runs in the top of the fifth. In the sixth inning, Lindenwood took the lead with a solo home run and a throwing error to take the lead, 4-3. Lindenwood held Iowa scoreless in the final five innings to secure the win.
“I thought we did a good job getting their starter out a little earlier than we expected,” Heller added. “With the game being close, they went with Aaron Jungers and he pitched fantastic. The way he pitches is perfect for a day like today. We made two errors that cost us runs, and on a day like today, the team that makes the fewest mistakes and gives up the fewest free bases usually wins. Other than the first inning, we didn’t get a leadoff batter on base and that makes it tough to do things.”
Jaylen Ziegler had three hits for the second straight game. Mitchell, Nerat, Schulte and Wulf were the only other Hawkeyes to collect hits.
OF NOTE
– Jaylen Ziegler picked up his second multi-hit game of the season.
– Logan Runde struck out five through 4.2 innings in his start today.
– Gable Mitchell leads the Hawkeyes in hits with 26 on the season.
– Saturday was Iowa’s first home setback of the season.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to action tomorrow at 1:02 p.m. (CT) to face Lindenwood for the final game of the series.