DAVENPORT, Iowa - Western Illinois and Iowa squared off for the fourth time this season on Wednesday night by the river at Modern Woodmen Park. Errors plagued the Purple & Gold and Western Illinois dropped the midweek contest 14-8.
The two teams had to navigate a maze of planks and bridges to access the stadium as recent storms have created an island of a stadium in the often flooded part of the city.
The Leathernecks struck first with a run in the first inning. Â Dan Dispensa walked to begin the inning before Matt Igara singled to right field. John Koszulinski was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Tom Lilja. Lilja flew out to center field to plate Dispensa with the sacrifice fly.
Iowa answered with four in the top of the second powered by three hits. A bases-load triple from Trevor Willis cleared the bases and put the Hawkeyes up 4-1.
Danny Marcuzzo sent his second home run of the season to left field to cut the Hawkeyes lead to 4-2.
Two hits and a Leatherneck error led to three more runs for the Hawkeyes as it extended the lead to 7-2.
Koszulinski was hit by yet another pitch to start the bottom of the third inning. Lilja followed with a single before Bryan Jordan connected with a fastball for a three-run big fly to bring the Leathernecks within two runs.
Another Leatherneck error and two more hits from Iowa allowed two runs in the top of the fifth to score.
A throwing error on the Hawkeye shortstop allowed Austin Cowen to reach and start the bottom of the fifth. Marcuzzo reach after wearing one on the shoulder before Anthony Kaskadden was able to draw a walk. Dispensa singled to right field to drive home two runs. Igara drove in the third run of the inning with a single through the left side to plate Kaskadden.
Iowa was able to produce another crooked number in the top of the sixth inning. The inning was highlighted by the Hawkeyes with three hits and the third Western Illinois error.
Tyson Blaser was able to add on a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to extend the lead to 13-8 for the Hawkeyes.
Garret Bolt (0-2) went 2.0 innings and allowed four earned runs to be saddled with the loss. Six other pitchers took the ball for the Leathernecks but Beau Below was the most effective as he went the final inning and struck out two Hawkeyes.
Dispensa was 3-for-4 on the night with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Bryan Jordan smacked a third inning home run to plate three while Igara, Lilja and Marcuzzo all contributed an RBI each.
Phil Keppler (1-0) picks up the victory for the Hawkeyes as he replaced starting pitcher Ricky Sandquist to go 2.2 innings and struck out four while not allowing an earned run.
Willis paced the Hawkeyes offensive attack with three RBI. Keith Brand and Kyle Haen also drove in two runs.
The Purple Army will resume Summit League play with a weekend trip to Oakland. Friday's contest is scheduled for 3 p.m. (ET).
