Iowa City, Iowa - The Leatherneck baseball program was able to provide enough support for starter Dan Russell to earn his third win of the season and string two victories together for the first time this season. Western Illinois defeated Iowa 4-2 in the opening game of a three-game weekend.
Russell started the game with three innings of retiring the Hawkeyes in order and actually retired the first 10 hitters he faced.
The Purple and Gold jumped out early with a run in the top of the fourth inning. With one out Tom Lilja singled but was caught stealing at second. Dan Dispensa reached on a throwing error on the shortstop and eventually stole second. The Leathernecks stole seven bases on the night. Anthony Kaskadden returned to the lineup with a double to right center that plated Dispensa and the Leathernecks had a 1-0 lead.
The Hawkeyes answered in the in their half with a run on a sacrifice fly.
Chris Giglio began the fifth inning with a single and was followed by a double from Matt Igara to score Giglio but was thrown out in between second and third base. Bryan Jordan singled and Austin Cowen drew a walk. John Koszulinski delivered the second RBI of the inning with a single up the middle.
Russell shut the door for the next four innings as he retired 12 in a row.
Western added a run in the eighth inning to extend their lead to 4-1. Igara singled with two outs before advancing to second on a throwing error on the Hawkeye catcher. Jordan doubled to left field to score Igara.
The ninth inning was a tense one as Russell ran into his first rough patch of the night. Iowa started the inning with a hit-by-pitch before Russell was able to get the first out via strikeout. Two singles from Iowa forced the Leathernecks to go to their bullpen. Beau Below was able to lock it down for his second straight save. The Hawkeyes did put a run on the board in the ninth.
Igara continued his torrid pace this season with a 3-for-3 and an RBI. Igara also stole two bases on the night. Jordan, Koszulinski and Kaskadden all added two hits and each drove in a run. Lilja, Dispensa and Giglio all contributed a hit to the cause. Dispensa and Kaskadden also stole bags.
Russell was electric as he went a season best 8.1 innings and struck out six Hawkeyes. He only allowed four hits and two runs against the Big Ten school. Russell improved to 3-1 on the season with the victory.
Below went 0.2 innings and did not allow a hit to secure the win for the Leathernecks.
Kurt Lee and Mike McQuillan both had two hits on the night for the Hawkeyes. Jarred Hippen went 5.2 innings and allowed nine hits and will get the loss to fall to 1-2 on the season. Patrick Lala went the final 3.1 innings for the home team and walked four Leathernecks and allowed one run.
The two teams will square off again tomorrow with game two of the four game season series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
