Iowa Baseball defeats Ohio State in a Saturday pitcher's duel
As nightmare thoughts of missing the Big Ten Tournament started to creep into the minds of Iowa Baseball fans, Marcus Morgan was there to squash them on Saturday afternoon. He allowed just one run over a season-high 6.0 innings pitched, as the Hawkeyes defeated Ohio State 3-2 to set up a Sunday rubber match. It is just the third time this season that they have won with less than five runs of offense.
Brody Brecht was scheduled to make his ninth start of the season, but when the starters were announced prior to the game, it was Marcus Morgan on the lineup card. A surprising change, but Marcus stepped up and delivered his best start since the opening weekend of the season.
After allowing two of the first three batters of the game to reach base, Morgan settled in, striking out four straight. Henry Kaczmar hit a solo home run to deep center field in the bottom of the third, but that is all the Buckeyes could manage against the Iowa City native.
Marcus allowed just one run on three hits over 6.0 innings, including six strikeouts to three walks. He threw 59 of his 93 (63.4%) pitches for strikes. It’s just the second time this season that an Iowa starting pitcher has completed six innings (Brecht vs Auburn, 2/23).
Unfortunately for the Hawkeyes, Ohio State starting pitcher Gavin Bruni was able to keep their bats quiet for the most part as well, allowing just three hits over five innings. However, Iowa was able to scratch across a couple of runs in the third inning. A Gable Mitchell single, followed by a bunt single from Michael Seegers set the table for a run scoring inning. Then, the scoring came in unique fashion. With the bases loaded, Raider Tello looked to have fouled a ball out of play, but on his swing, he caught a piece of the glove of catcher Matthew Graveline, which was called catcher’s interference. Davis Cop followed with a sacrifice fly to right field and Iowa led 2-0.
In the seventh, facing the Buckeyes bullpen, Iowa added an insurance run. Singles from Gable Mitchell and Cade Moss put runners on the corners with just one out. Andy Nelson drove in a run with a 5-4 fielder’s choice. None of the Hawkeyes three runs came off of a hit, but it didn’t matter.
Ohio State quickly canceled out Iowa’s run, with a solo home run off of the bat of Isaac Cadena. His first career home run put the pressure back on. Anthony Watts completed 1.1 innings out of the bullpen, but handed the ball to Ben DeTaeye with the tying run on second in the eighth. DeTaeye answered inducing a pair of fly outs to send the game to the ninth.
The Hawkeyes did not close the game out without a bit of drama. After a pinch-hit sac bunt from Hunter Rosson, Ohio State had the tying run on third base and the winning run on second with just one out. Trey Lipsey lined out to Gable Mitchell at 2B and Henry Kaczmar popped out to third base to end the game.
Offensively, six players recorded one hit, while Gable Mitchell led the way with three hits. Reese Moore drew a pair of walks on the day. On the mound, Iowa pitchers threw 96 of their 154 (62.4%) pitches for strikes.
Final Pitching Stat Lines
IOWA
Marcus Morgan: 6.0 INN, 1 R, 3 H, 6 K, 3 BB Anthony Watts: 1.1 INN, 1 R, 2 H, 2 K, 1 BB Ben DeTaeye: 1.2 INN, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB
OHIO STATE
Gavin Bruni: 5.0 INN, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 2 BB Chase Herrell: 1.2 INN, 1 R, 3 H Zach Brown: 1.2 INN, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB Jacob Morin: 0.2 INN, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K
Up Next, the Hawkeyes will look to take the series in reverse fashion with a win on Sunday afternoon. First pitch against the Buckeyes is set for 11:00am CT on BTN+.
