EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Iowa baseball team pounded out 14 hits en route to a 10-7 victory over Northwestern in Sunday's series finale at Rocky Miller Park.
The victory is Iowa's 29th of the season, moving the Hawkeyes record to 29-18 overall, 10-9 in Big Ten play.
Iowa manufactured runs early, using a two-out rally in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. After Matt Hoeg walked and stole second, sophomore Ben Norman hit an RBI single down the left field line to give Iowa the 1-0 advantage. The Hawkeyes made it 2-0 when Norman scored on a throwing error by Wildcat catcher Jack Claeys.
After Northwestern put up a three spot in the third to take a 3-2 lead, the Hawkeyes scored two in the fourth, one in the sixth, and three in the seventh to build a 8-3 lead.
Junior Mitchell Boe delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle to knock in the tying run, before Iowa regained the lead on Kyle Crowl's RBI single to centerfield.
Norman singled to start the sixth and junior Chris Whelan followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners. Crowl delivered an RBI ground out, putting Iowa up 5-3.
The Hawkeyes broke the game away in the seventh. Junior Robert Neustrom hit a solo home run to right field to lead off the inning before Jenkins singled and Hoeg doubled to put two on. Norman made the score 8-3 with a two-run double to left field.
After the Wildcats got one run back in the bottom half, Iowa pushed its lead to 10-4 with a two-run eighth. Neustrom drew a walk before Hoeg connected on a two-run home run to extend the Hawkeyes' advantage.
Northwestern made things interesting in the ninth, putting up a three spot, courtesy of a three-run Claeys home run. mered to right field to bring the Wildcats within three runs. Junior Zach Daniels got the final out to tally his fifth save of the season.
Dreyer earned his second win in as many weeks, scattering four hits and allowing three runs (one earned) over five innings. The southpaw finished with six strikeouts, tying a career-high.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
“We got a great start out of Jack Dreyer today, he was solid. The defense let him down in the third inning, but he overcame it and ended up going five strong. Ben Probst and Cam Baumann did a nice job after Dreyer. We had to go to Daniels at the end, but it was a good day from those guys on the mound.
"Offensively, we broke out today, which we needed. I was pleased with the bottom three in the order. It was good to see Norman have a big day, as well as Hoeg and Neustrom. Up-and-down the lineup we were able to string some hits together and get some runs.”
OF NOTE…
- Iowa utilized three freshmen pitchers -- Jack Dreyer, Ben Probst, and Cam Baumann -- in the series finale victory.
- Norman led the Hawkeyes offensively, going 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs.
- Neustrom and Hoeg both homered in the contest -- Neustrom's 11th and Hoeg's third. Neustrom went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Hoeg went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
- It is the third series loss for the Hawkeyes this season. Iowa is 8-10 on the road. UP NEXT The Hawkeyes travel to Macomb, Illinois, on Tuesday for their final midweek game against Western Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT). FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES Stay up-to-date on all the happenings with the Iowa baseball program on social media via Twitter (@UIBaseball), Instagram/UIBaseball, and Facebook/IowaBaseball.