CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Iowa baseball team used a big offensive day to defeat Austin Peay on Saturday at Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville, Tenn. The Hawkeyes (1-1) scored 13 runs on 15 hits, downing the Governors, 13-1, to notch their first victory of the season.
“We scored 13 runs in some very tough conditions,” said UI head coach Jack Dahm. “It never got above 35 degrees today, so I was really impressed with how we swung the bats. We hit very well throughout the entire game and scored in various ways. Not only did we swing the bat well, but we also ran the bases extremely well. We did a lot of good things from an offensive standpoint”
The offense for Iowa began in the first inning, as the Hawkeyes scored three runs in the opening frame. Sophomore Eric Toole began the game by drawing a walk, which was followed by a Jake Mangler single. Mangler and Toole moved to second and third via a stolen base before senior Dan Sheppard singled through the right side of the infield to drive in two runs. Sheppard scored two batters later, as junior Trevor Kenyon singled in his first at-bat as a Hawkeye.
Austin Peay (1-1) scored its lone run in the second inning to make the score 3-1. Iowa responded by scoring 10 unanswered runs.
The Hawkeyes pushed two runs across the plate in the third inning, as sophomore Jake Yacinich doubled to right center to score Mangler. Yacinich later scored on a Sheppard sacrifice fly. Yacinich has posted a RBI in both of Iowa’s games this season.
Iowa scored a run in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings to take an 8-1 lead into the ninth, as Taylor Kaufman, Mangler, and Sheppard all drove in runs. It was Sheppard’s fourth RBI of the contest, setting a new career high. He also matched a career-high with three hits.
The Hawkeyes closed their day at the plate by scoring five runs in the ninth inning. Sophomore Kris Goodman drove in the first run after singling to left field. Goodman finished his day with three hits and three runs scored, setting career-highs in both categories. After scoring two runs off of wild pitches, junior Keith Brand delivered a pinch-hit single to register another run. Junior Taylor Zeutenhorst closed the scoring with a RBI single.
The offensive output was more than enough for the Iowa pitching staff, as senior Matt Dermody, Kaufman, and freshman Josh Martsching combined to hold Austin Peay to just eight hits. Dermody started the game and picked up the win, throwing five innings and striking out four. The Norwalk, Iowa, native allowed just one unearned run. Kaufman pitched three innings and recorded four strikeouts. Martsching made his collegiate debut in the ninth. The Bloomfield, Iowa, native needed just six pitches to post a scoreless inning.
“They did an outstanding job,” Dahm said. “I was happy with that overall approach the entire day; it’s not easy pitching in conditions like that. I’ve been impressed in the way our pitchers have competed the entire weekend so far.”
Iowa and Austin Peay play the final game of a three-game series tomorrow. Action will begin at 1 p.m. (CT) at Raymond C. Hand Park.
“The key for us is to get refocused,” Dahm said. “Today is done and tomorrow is an opportunity to come out of here with a series win. That’s our goal every weekend and we need to get ourselves ready to go for tomorrow.”
