Photo: @webcentrick
Iowa City, IA – In another wild game, the Hawkeyes upset 17th ranked Oklahoma State 16-14. As you can imagine with 30 runs scored, there was a lot of drama. Iowa trailed at several points, including 3-0 after the top of the first and 11-6 after the top of the fourth. Iowa regained the lead for good in the 7th inning, when Matt Hoeg cleared the bases with a three-run double, making it 13-12 Iowa. Iowa had some important insurance runs via a Robert Neustrom three run homer in the 8th. This was huge as the Cowboys had two solo home runs to create more drama in the ninth, before Zach Daniels closed out the game.
Iowa’s 16 runs came on 14 hits. Robert Neustrom was the star of the show, going 3-5 with 2 home runs, 5 RBis, and 3 runs scored. Neustrom’s 10th homer of the season gave him the team lead back from Tyler Cropley. Matt Hoeg also had a huge game, going 2-4 with 6 RBIs and 2 doubles. Kyle Crowl was a perfect 4-4 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Cropley ended up 1-4 with 3 runs scored.
The pitching was again a struggle for the Hawkeyes. Brady Schanuel got roughed up again, allowing 9 earned runs in 3 2/3 innings of work on six hits and an alarming six walks, while striking out five. Derek Lieurance also struggled through 2/3 of an inning, allowing two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one. Cam Baumann only allowed 1 run on 3 hits and a walk over 1 2/3 inning. Ben Probst earned his first career win by pitching a shutout inning in the 7th, striking out the side. Nick Nelsen also pitched a shutout inning in the 8th, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 1. Zach Daniels gave up a pair of solo homers in the ninth.
The win improves Iowa to 27-16 on the season. It is Iowa’s 7th win against an RPI top 50 team this season, in 14 attempts. The series finale tomorrow will be Iowa’s last chance in the regular season against a top-level team. It is unknown who will pitch for the Hawks in the game, as the regular Sunday starter Cole McDonald is recovering from an injury suffered against Michigan. It will likely be all hands-on deck with a lot of bullpen pitchers having a chance to pitch. First pitch is 11:35am in the rubber match.
