MACOMB, Ill. - Western
Illinois rallied from a five-run deficit, but was unable to pull out a victory
in a 6-5 extra-innings loss to Iowa, Tuesday, April 20.
The Hawkeyes (14-19) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over
the Fighting Leathernecks (9-24) on Ryan Durant's sacrifice fly in the bottom
of the first inning.
Iowa would add on four more runs in the bottom of the third
on four hits, including a two-run triple by Zach McCool to stretch the lead to
5-0.
The Leathernecks would cut in to the lead with three runs in
the top of the fourth. Western scored its first run when Chris Giglio hit an
RBI double to right center to make the score 5-1.
Rich Mascheri would bring two more runs across the plate
with a single to right field to cut the lead to 5-3.
Western Illinois would pull within one when Bryan Jordan hit
a solo home run in the top of the fifth, his team-leading seventh of the
season, to bring the Leathernecks within one at 5-4.
Neither team was able to plate a run until Dan Dispensa
knocked in the game-tying run with a two-out RBI single in the top of the ninth
inning to tie the game at 5-5.
Chris Fuchs pitched a scoreless bottom half of the ninth to
send the game into extra innings.
Anthony Kaskadden led off the top of the tenth with a double
to center field to put the go-ahead run at second base, but the next three
hitters were unable to bring the run across.
Phil Keppler led off the bottom of the inning with a double
down the left field line before Western intentionally walked Kurtis Muller to
set up a double play opportunity, but McCool laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners.
The Leathernecks attempted to intentionally walk the next
batter as well, but a passed ball during the sequence allowed pinch runner Kurt
Lee to come across with the winning run.
It was the third time in four meetings this season that Iowa
has won in walk-off fashion against Western Illinois.
Fuchs (0-3) took the loss, allowing one run (unearned) on
three hits in 3.1 innings. He walked one and struck out three.
Kevin Lee (2-0) picked up the win, allowing one run on three
hits in two innings of work. He recorded one strikeout and did not walk a
batter.
Kaskadden led the Leathernecks with three base hits in a
3-for-5 effort, including his sixth double of the season. Dispensa extended his hitting streak to 14 games by
finishing the day 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Jordan and Mascheri each finished the day with two hits and
five different Leathernecks scored a run. Chris Macek tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief for
Western Illinois. He struck out two and did not allow a hit or a walk.
Western Illinois out hit Iowa by a 12-8 margin and did not
commit an error. The Hawkeyes turned the game's only double play as Western
left six runners on base.
The Leathernecks will return to Summit League action when
they travel to Oral Roberts for a four-game series beginning Friday, April 23
at 7 p.m.
