UI Athletics news release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team defeated the Purdue Boilermakers, 14-5, on Friday night to clinch the series at Principal Park presented by 1-800-BETS-OFF.
Sophomore Tyler Guerin started on the mound for the Hawkeyes, pitching 2.2 innings. Freshman Cole Moore followed with 1.1 innings of relief, before sophomore Jaron Bleeker closed out the game, tossing 5.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
“Cole Moore did a nice job coming into the game to slow it down after Tyler Guerin,” said head coach Rick Heller. “The key to that game was Jarron Bleeker coming in to minimize them and give us a chance to come back. Then he went on to pitch really well tonight. I’m really happy with how Bleek has progressed this season and the confidence he’s gained. He’s pitched really well.”
The game was scoreless through the first two innings before Purdue scored four runs in the top of the third to take an early lead. Iowa got on the board in the bottom of the third when senior Gable Mitchell reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring redshirt junior Ben Swails.
The Hawkeyes added another run in the bottom of the fourth when graduate student Matthew Delgado singled through the right side of the infield to score senior Mitch Wood from second, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Purdue added another run in the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Iowa took its first lead of the game after scoring four runs. Senior Caleb Wulf singled to right field to score senior Miles Risley. Redshirt sophomore Jaxien Frost then doubled to left field, bringing in Wulf from second and Wood from first. Senior Ben Swails capped the inning by scoring Frost, giving the Hawkeyes a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Hawkeyes added eight more runs, starting with senior Kellen Strohmeyer laying down a bunt to score senior Joey Nerat. Risley doubled to center field to bring home Strohmeyer and Shulte, and Wulf singled to left to score Mitchell and Risley. Wood followed with a single through the left side to score Wulf. To cap the inning, Frost homered to left field, scoring redshirt freshman Brett White.
Of Note..
– Frost hit his fifth home run of the season.
– Iowa has won five of its last seven series.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes play the final game of the series against Purdue tomorrow at 1:02 p.m. CT. It will be aired on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.