By Hawkeyesports.com

PORT CHARLOTTE, Florida– The University of Iowa baseball team finished opening weekend, 3-0, after defeating the Quinnipiac Bobcats, 10-0, in eight innings.

Marcus Morgan got the start for the Hawkeyes throwing four innings while allowing three hits and striking out one.

Luke Lewellywn entered in relief for an inning and earned the win allowing two baserunners but forcing a double play and a groundout to end the inning. Keaton Anthony (2 and 2/3) and Nick Gottilla (1/3) combined to throw the remaining three innings.

“Just like yesterday I feel really good about how our guys came out and played hard,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Early morning two days in a row. We didn’t have a let down. Got a quality start out of Marcus Morgan. Really happy with how Marcus went out and competed, he didn’t give up a run and scattered three hits. Keaton Anthony, Luke Llewellyn, and Nick Gottilla combining to shut them out the rest of the way.

11 different Hawkeyes tallied hits in the blowout victory with two players notching multi-hit games. Anthony was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Sam Petersen was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Brennen Dorighi (2-for-3) and Kyle Huckstorf (2-for-3) and Brayden Frazier each tallied two RBIs.

“Offensively, it was a pretty balanced attack up and down the lineup today,” said Heller. “That was good to see, we were putting pressure on them virtually every inning. They gave us some free bases, and we ended up with six extra base hits today. Dorighi had a big home run to break things open. Guys had doubles to bring people in. Then to play really solid defense for the third straight day I was really pleased with.”

The Hawkeyes capitalized on a pair of Bobcat errors in the first inning to take a two-run lead. They broke things open with a four run third and a two run fourth. The rounded things out scoring the final two runs in the eighth inning to end the game early.

“We had a lot of guys getting on via the hit,” said Heller. “That is a great thing to see. Getting leadoff guys on gets the offense jump started and allows you to do what you need to do.”

OF NOTE

• Iowa opened the season with three straight wins for just the fourth time since 2006.
• Brennen Dorighi hit his first home run as a Hawkeye, the transfer from Wofford hit 13 in his four years as a Terrier.
• The Hawkeyes turned a season high four double plays and did not allow an extra base hit.
• Iowa hit .625 (5-8) to lead off the innings and .423 (11-26) in advancement opportunities.

NEXT UP

The Hawkeyes (3-0) return to action Friday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m. (CT) at the Karbach Round Rock Classic in Round Rock, Texas.