IOWA CITY, Iowa – Western Illinois lost to Iowa, 4-3, on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday, March 26. Iowa had the bases loaded with when Ryan Durant singled home the winning run with one out.
The Fighting Leathernecks (5-13) made a late rally to tie the Hawkeyes (6-12) at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning, but fell just short in the first contest of a three-game series.
Iowa got on the board first when Phil Keppler hit a two-run homer to center field to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Trevor Willis would score later in the inning on an RBI ground out to the shortstop.
The Leathernecks
failed to capitalize on two bases loaded opportunities in the fourth
and fifth innings, leaving the bases loaded on both occasions.
Randon Lingle would shut down the Hawkeyes through the next four innings as Western fought back to tie the game at 3-3 in the eighth. The Leathernecks scored their first run when Tom Lilja scored on an Andrew Hagins RBI groundout to make the score 3-1.
Lilja would tie the game with a single up the middle in the eighth, scoring Bryan Jordan and Chris Giglio, to tie the game at 3-3. Lingle would sit the Hawkeyes down in order to keep the game tied heading into the ninth.
Kurt Lee would reach safely on a two-base error to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt in the next at-bat. Western would intentionally walk the next two batters to set up an inning ending double play, but Durant's ground ball to the right side glanced off the glove of a diving Chris Giglio and Lee would score the winning run with one out.
Randon Lingle (1-4) took the loss despite pitching eight strong innings. He allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits while walking two and striking out five. Nick Brown (1-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs in 2.1 innings in relief. He walked one and struck out two.
Iowa starter Jarred Hippen allowed one unearned run on six its in 6.2 innings while walking two and striking out a season-high nine batters.
Lilja finished the game 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI to extend his hitting streak to six games. Jordan was 3-for-4 with a run scored and Jason Summers went 2-for-5. Giglio and John Koszulinski each finished with one hit.
The Leathernecks will take on Iowa in the second game of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the live broadcast beginning on Rocky Vision ten minutes before the first pitch.
