ROUND ROCK, TEXAS – Keaton Anthony hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning to propel the University of Iowa baseball team to a 6-5 victory over Kansas State on Sunday afternoon at the Round Rock Classic.
“Tight ball game, good ball game,” said head coach Rick Heller. “I really liked how we came out offensively today, scoring runs in the first three innings. We had some opportunities in the middle innings and didn’t get any in, but we never really stopped putting pressure on them.”
The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 4-0 lead through the first two and a half innings, but the Wildcats rallied back to tie things in the bottom of the fourth. Each team plated a run over the next four innings to make it 5-5 and set up the game winning home run by Anthony.
“We competed hard, played good defense again, said Heller. “Keaton had a big game and stepped up with a big game winning home run in the 9th. Zach Voelker was outstanding out of the bullpen. I was really impressed with Zach and how well he pitched. It was a great day. Really felt like our team came out ready to play. There was no letdown from yesterday, which was something we wanted to avoid. We found a way to win a close ball game.”
Marcus Morgan got the start for Iowa throwing three and 1/3 innings allowing four runs with four strikeouts. Zach Voelker entered in relief and would throw the remaining five and 2/3 innings striking out five and allowing just one earned run.
Eight of the ten Hawkeye position players that saw action tallied hits in the victory with three different players notching multi-hit games.
Anthony was 3-of-5 with two doubles and the home run. Kyle Huckstorf was 2-of-3 with two RBIs and Cade Moss was 2-of-3 with an RBI.
OF NOTE
Raider Tello extended his hitting streak to each of the six games to start the season. Anthony is at a five-game hitting streak.
Voelker got the win in relief, moving to 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA.
The last time the Hawkeyes started the season 5-1 was 2018.
The Hawkeyes have scored 41 runs in the first six games of the season while allowing only 18.
NEXT UP
The Hawkeyes (5-1) return to action hosting Loras on Tuesday at 4:05 p.m. (CT) in their home opener.
