Iowa baseball drops midweek non-conference matchup vs. Western Illinois

USA Today

23-04-2025

Iowa baseball drops midweek non-conference matchup vs. Western Illinois
After returning home following a three-game weekend sweep against Michigan, Iowa baseball (27-12, 17-4 Big Ten) suffered a disappointing 7-3 midweek loss vs. Western Illinois (12-24, 5-10 Ohio Valley) from Duane Banks Field on Tuesday evening.
Graduate senior right-hander Daniel Wright (2-1, 3.50 ERA) got the start for the Hawkeyes, which saw him give up one earned run on five hits, walk two, and strike out three over three innings of work. Although Wright would escape two bases-loaded jams in the first and third innings, he would be tagged with the loss.
Four other pitchers saw the mound for Iowa following Wright's departure. While Iowa's pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts, the Hawkeyes gave up 10 free bases that prolonged multiple scoring threats by the Leathernecks.
"It was a combination of bad luck," said head coach Rick Heller. "We hit a bunch of balls in the third, fourth, and fifth that were just smoked that we didn't get rewarded for. Then, when we try to get things going and we are in a good place, we had some horrendous at-bats at the wrong time."
Western Illinois opened the scoring in the first inning on a fielder's choice RBI and then tacked on three in the fifth on an RBI single, walk, and wild pitch to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
Iowa scored its first run in the bottom of the fifth when Gable Mitchell hit an RBI double to score Andy Nelson to cut the deficit to three. Western Illinois would add two more runs in the top of the seventh, which was answered by an RBI single by Daniel Rogers in the bottom half of the frame.
The ninth inning would see the Leatherneck add their seventh run of the game in the top of the inning, and Iowa answer with their third and final run of the evening with a Miles Risley solo blast.
While Iowa would outhit Western Illinois by an 11-8 margin, the 10 walks surrendered, coupled with hitting 4-for-21 with runners on base, would handcuff the Hawkeyes on an overall disappointing outing offensively.
"We gave them too many free bases," said Heller. "They were swining it, we knew that coming in that they could swing it. That it wasn't just one or two guys, that there were several that the way they were playing right now we would have to pitch well. On a night like tonight you just have to outscore them, and we didn't."
Iowa will play another midweek game today vs. St. Thomas (19-14, 13-4 Summit League) from Duane Banks Field with fifth-year senior left-hander Benjamin DeTaeye (0-3, 4.35 ERA) expected the get the start on the mound.
Wednesday's game is scheduled for a 6:02 p.m. CT first pitch and will stream on Big Ten Plus (subscription required). Fans can also follow along through the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans.
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