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Hawkeyes take the opener in Bloomington

On3 imageby:Kyle Huesmann•04/07/23•

HuesmannKyle

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Photo by Dennis Scheidt

After dropping a midweek game against Illinois State and then suffering a series loss at home to Maryland, the Hawkeyes really needed a win to open this weekend. Brody Brecht gave a really good start on the mound and the offense scored in five different innings en route to a 7-1 win against Indiana.

“Our guys set the tone with a two out rally to get a run in the first,” said head coach Rick Heller. “On a night when the wind was blowing in, who knows what is going to happen. Brennen Dorighi had a really good night, hits a home run into the teeth of the wind and should have had another one on a normal day. He really clutched up well for us.”  

Ever since his eight-walk stress filled outing against LSU in Round Rock, Brody Brecht has been the most consistent starter for the Hawkeyes. His last four starts had gone at least 5.0 innings and today, he went for a career-high 7.0 innings. Brecht struck out seven, walked four and allowed just one run on two hits.

“We got a great start out of Brody Brecht,” said Heller. “Deepest he has gone into a game and kept his pitch count down. Was getting weak contact early in the count. That was great to see.” 

At the plate, Rick Heller’s squad got on the board right away and the rally came with two outs. A hit by pitch and a single set the table for Raider Tello. He delivered an RBI single to put the Hawkeyes on the board 1-0.

Indiana starter Ben Seiler gave up a couple of free bases in the fourth inning and gave way to Brooks Ey out of the bullpen. Michael Seegers loaded the bases with a single, while it was a single from Brayden Frazier that drove in two runs to make it 3-0.

Up 4-0 in the seventh, Brennen Dorighi blasted a solo home run to straightaway centerfield to extend the lead to 5-0. In the bottom of the inning, Brayden Frazier made an SC Top 10 diving catch in right center to keep a run from scoring. The Hoosiers did finally get on the board with an RBI single from Hunter Jessee. That was all they could muster off the Iowa pitching staff.

In the ninth, Iowa took advantage of more free bases from the Hoosiers. An error, a hit by pitch and a walk loaded the bases. Kyle Huckstorf roped a two-run double in the left center gap to make it 7-1 and really blow the game open.

Jacob Henderson came on in relief of Brecht and struck out six of the eight batters he faced to finish off the Iowa series opening victory.

“Jacob Henderson six punchouts in the last two innings,” said Heller. “Shutting the door and us adding runs to give us the insurance. Couldn’t have been a better Friday night.”  

Dorighi, Tello and Michael Seegers each finished with three hits on the day. Tello, Kyle Huckstorf and Michael Seegers each had two RBI’s on the day. Iowa was 4/10 with runners in scoring position, while the Hoosiers were just 1/16 with runners on base.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: 1B Brennen Dorighi: 2 H, BB, 3 R, HR

Dorighi scored three of Iowa’s seven runs and hit his fifth home run in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 5-0. Brennen is now batting .366 on the season.

Up next for the Hawkeyes…

With the win, Iowa moves to 22-6 on the season and have now won three games in a row after dropping three games in a row last week. The Hawkeyes are now 2-2 in Big Ten play and will try to clinch the series against Indiana tomorrow. Marcus Morgan will take the mound for Iowa, while the Hoosiers will send Luke Sinnard out to start. First pitch is set for 11:00am and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

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