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Hawkeyes defeat Loras College in home opener

On3 imageby:Kyle Huesmann•02/28/23•

HuesmannKyle

hawkeyes-defeat-loras-home-opener

A game against D3 Loras College doesn’t count towards the season record. It doesn’t count for or against the uber important RPI. However, Iowa was motivated to get the Duhawks back after they upset the Hawkeyes at Duane Banks Field last season. The offense racked up 13 hits, while nine pitchers took the mound. Iowa got some revenge for last season and defeated Loras 9-2.

“I think there was (extra motivation),” said head coach Rick Heller. “I though from the time we got to the ballpark, until the game was over, there was good focus and good energy. The guys were into the game like you’d expect and want them to be.”

The Hawkeyes jumped on the board in the first inning and did it with the long ball. Keaton Anthony and Brennen Dorighi hit back-to-back home runs to make it 2-0. Later in the inning, Rick Heller reached into his bag of tricks and went with another double steal with runners on the corners. Sam Hojnar stole second and Sam Petersen scored on the throw to put Iowa up 3-0. Another Hellerball success.

“We don’t focus on the name on the jersey. Just play baseball, try to execute the best we can and control the controllables,” said Heller. “That’s our motto every single day, whether it’s Loras or LSU or Indiana State or Quinnipiac. That’s the mindset you have to have to be a really consistent championship type team.”

In the second inning, Raider Tello helped add to the Iowa lead. A flared a single into centerfield just got over the outstretched glove of Loras 2B Mitch Gruber. Gehrig Christensen scored to make it 4-0.

On the mound, Rick Heller got some good outings from pitchers that have not thrown much this season. Jack Whitlock, Nick Gotilla and Cade Obermueller looked solid, as they put up zeros. Gotilla and Obermueller each had two strikeouts. Chas Wheatley worked a scoreless third inning, but had to work around a couple of hits and a walk.

The Duhawks got on the board in the fifth inning with Jack Young on the mound. Leadoff hitter Max McCallum delivered an RBI single to score Mitch Gruber and cut the lead to 4-1. True freshman Drew Proskovec put up a zero in the sixth in his first career appearance, but the Duhawks threatened to close the gap in the seventh.

Jacob Henderson entered for his first appearance of the season, but struggled, walking three batters in a row with one out. Henderson struck out Dakota Curch, but a wild pitch allowed Alex Sandoval to score to cut the lead to 4-2, but more importantly, the tying run advanced to second base. Jacob buckled down and struck out Max Cullen to end the threat.

From there, the Iowa offense added some insurance to put the game out of reach. In the seventh, Blake Guerin brought in a run with an RBI groundout and Brayden Frazier followed with an RBI double to make it 6-2. The Hawkeyes got things going again in the eighth with three straight hits to open the inning. Brennen Dorighi delivered the third one, an RBI double to deep left field. Sam Hojnar followed with a two-run single later in the inning and all the sudden Iowa put things out of reach with a 9-2 lead.

Luke Llewellyn threw a scoreless eighth, while Will Christophersen struck out the side in the ninth inning with a heavy dose of sliders to secure the Iowa midweek victory.

“I think Jack Whitlock did a really good job of starting the game off. He was sharp and composed. Gottilla was solid. Cade Obermueller was really good. Drew Proskovec in his first outing was really sharp and did a nice job. Will Christophersen had a really good slider tonight. He had plus stuff tonight,” said Heller as he recapped his pitching staffs performance.

“Was good to see those guys all do a nice job and it makes you feel good heading into the middle part of the season when those midweek games are going to become more and more important.”

Raider Tello, Keaton Anthony and Brennen Dorighi each had three hits on the night, while Sam Hojnar added two hits and reached base three times. Anthony, Dorighi and Sam Petersen combined to score seven runs. The pitching staff, as a whole, collected 12 strikeouts to five walks and allowed two runs on five hits.

PLAYER OF THE GAME- Brennen Dorighi (2nd) – 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 HR, 2 RBIs

For the second time in a week, Dorighi wins the player of the game for Iowa. His first inning home run helped the Hawkeyes get off to a good start, while his eigth inning RBI double helped them add to their lead. For the season, Brennen is batting .407 on the season with three home runs and a team-leading nine RBI’s.

Up next for the Hawkeyes…

With the win, the Hawkeyes unofficially move to 6-1 on the season. Wins against lower division competition do not count, so Iowa is officially 5-1. Up next, is a trip to Mobile, Alabama for the South Alabama Invitational. They are set to face Southern on Friday, South Alabama on Saturday and Pepperdine on Sunday. It is their final “tournament” weekend before the traditional weekend series start up with Texas Tech from March 10-12.