March 23, 2012
Site: Iowa City, Iowa (Duane Banks Field)
Score: Iowa 3, Northwestern 2
Records: NU (7-13, 0-1 Big Ten), Iowa (8-10, 1-0 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Saturday, March 2 -- at Iowa (Iowa City, Iowa), 1:05 p.m.
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Jack Havey hit a game-tying home run in the top of the ninth, but Iowa got the game-winning run in the bottom half as Northwestern dropped its Big Ten opener 3-2 at Duane Banks Field Friday afternoon.
After both teams were retired in order in the first inning, Northwestern struck first with a two-out rally against Jarred Hippen in the top of the second. Havey led off the frame with a single but a double play cleared the bases. Geoff Rowan was able to leg out a bunt single down the third base line before Walker Moses dumped a double into the right-center field gap, allowing Rowan to race all the way around to score.
Meanwhile, Francis Brooke was locked in on the mound early on for the Wildcats. Following a perfect first, he struck out the side in order in the second and then put Iowa down 1-2-3 again in the third. The string extended to 12 in a row retired as Brooke got his fifth strikeout as well as a pair of groundouts to third in the fourth inning.
The Hawkeyes finally got baserunners in the fifth as Taylor Zeutenhorst drew a leadoff walk. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second before Dan Sheppard was hit by a pitch to give Iowa two men on. Hamilton Wise made a nice running grab for the second out with Zeutenhorst tagging and going to third on the play, giving the hosts runners on the corners. However, Brooke was able bear down as he fanned Kasey Carling to maintain the 1-0 lead.
The game turned in Iowa's favor in the bottom of the sixth as the Hawkeyes finally got their first hit on a one-out triple to right-center by Mike McQuillan. Jacob Yacinich followed with a double to center that tied the game before an error on a ball hit by Ryan Rumpf put Iowa in front, 2-1.
Northwestern threatened to answer right back in the top of the seventh inning. With one away, Rowan singled and Moses followed with his third hit in as many at-bats, giving the Wildcats runners at first and second. However, Hippen got a strikeout and then a forceout at second to protect the Hawkeyes' one-run advantage.
Iowa looked to add to its lead in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases on two hits and a walk, but Brooke was able to get out of trouble by getting a flyout to center to end the frame.
Havey started things for the Wildcats in the top of the ninth and he launched a solo home run off Hippen to get NU back to even at 2-2.
Paul Snieder came on to relieve Brooke to start the bottom of the ninth and a swinging bunt gave Iowa a baserunner with one out. A sacrifice bunt moved Carling to second base before an intentional walk put two on for Yacinich. The freshman worked the count full before finding a hole between shortstop and third base to drive in the game-winning run.
Northwestern had a 9-7 edge in the hit column paced by three hits by Moses and two apiece by Havey and Rowan. Brooke allowed just one earned run and two walks while striking out seven over eight solid innings of work in picking up a no-decision.
The teams continue their three-game series at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.
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