By Adam Hensley
A rain delay after seven scoreless innings sparked a Purdue run in the eighth inning that Iowa couldn’t overcome, losing 2-0.
The Boilermakers scored 2 runs on the first two pitches from Drake Robison (who only managed a handful of throws before the rain) following the delay. Nick Dalesandro tripled into right field – right through a gap in Iowa’s outfield – and Mike Madej scored the first run of the game.
Jacson McGowan added another run by bringing in Dalesandro after he connected on a double, a shot that tore through the same gap as the previous hit.
Iowa had a chance to make some noise in the final inning, with Grant Judkins reaching base on a single to center, but a pop-up to center and a strikeout ended any hopes of a comeback.
It wasn’t as though Iowa couldn’t connect on anything or place any runners in scoring position.
The Hawkeyes had nine chances to bring in a runner in scoring position, failing to connect on any of them.
“We had some really bad at-bats with runners in scoring position in the first six innings,” head coach Rick Heller said. “Ultimately, that’s what came back to bite us. Tip your hat to [Tanner] Andrews [Purdue’s starting pitcher], he really buckled down when he did get runners in scoring position.”
Iowa finished 1-for-15 with runners on base.
Nick Gallagher, in his first game back from resting after soreness in his arm, put together 5 solid innings, allowing only 5 hits and recording 4 strikeouts.
In limited action, pitcher Josh Martsching put together the most complete two innings of the game, striking out 5.
Tyler Cropley kept Iowa alive while batting – his 3 hits were his best as a Hawkeye.
The March 25 game against Purdue will begin at 2:05 p.m. at Banks Field.
