Elgie, Heere Power Jayhawks Past Iowa, 5-4
April 7, 2009
IOWA CITY, Iowa –
Sophomore Brian Heere collected a career high five hits, but it took freshman Zac Elgie’s RBI single in the top of the ninth before Kansas could claim a wild 5-4 triumph over Iowa Tuesday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.
The Jayhawks improve to 19-12 overall while Iowa falls to 11-16. The win marked KU’s first one-run win on the road this season. It was also the team’s first true road win since KU downed No. 21 Arkansas on Feb. 25.
Kansas recorded 17 hits – all singles – in the game, while the Hawkeyes made four costly errors, including one in the top of the ninth inning that allowed the Jayhawks to break a tie.
With runners on first and second with one out, senior Nick Faunce hit a hard ground ball to third. Trying to turn a double play, Iowa third baseman Chett Zeise threw errantly to second, which loaded the bases.
Elgie made the Hawkeyes pay with a base hit down the left field line which plated a pair of runs and broke the 3-3 tie.
Kansas relief pitcher Colton Murray allowed a run in the ninth, but fanned Iowa’s Phil Keppler with the tying run on third to end the game. Murray pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief, allowing a run on two hits with six strikeouts.
Kansas starting pitcher Cameron Selik did not factor in the decision, but pitched well enough to win. The right-handed junior scattered six hits and two runs over six innings and left with a 3-2 lead.
The Jayhawks gave their starting pitcher the lead with a pair of runs in the third inning and a run in the seventh. Following a first inning run, KU regained the lead with a pair of runs in the third on hits by Brian Heere and Tony Thompson and an RBI ground out by Elgie – who had three RBIs on the day.
Iowa came back to tie in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by T.J. Cataldo.
Kansas regained the lead in the seventh as Heere drove home Robby Price with a line drive up the middle, after Price led off the inning with a hit and moved to third on a wild pick off attempt.
The Jayhawks will look to sweep the two-game series Wednesday with a 4 p.m. game against the Hawkeyes at Duane Banks Field.
