By Tommy Lang

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa baseball team avenged its 2022 loss to Loras Tuesday at Banks Field, defeating the Duhawks 9-2 in the team’s home opener.

Reigning Big Ten Player of the Week Keaton Anthony began the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.

That was immediately followed by another solo shot from first baseman Brennan Dorighi, giving Iowa a two-run lead. Second baseman Sam Hojnar stole home on a double-steal to give Iowa a 3-0 lead after 1.

The three first-inning runs were more than the Hawkeyes scored all game in last season’s 3-1 loss to the Division III Duhawks.

Third baseman Raider Tello singled in catcher Gehrig Christensen in the 2nd to extend the lead to 4-0.

Loras loaded the bases in the 3rd, but sophomore hurler Chas Wheatley kept the Duhawks from scoring.

Iowa junior right-hander Jack Young gave up the first Duhawk run of the game with one out in the 5th, allowing an RBI single to Loras leadoff man Max McCallum.

Iowa’s Jacob Henderson loaded the bases in the 7th, with one run scoring on a wild pitch before he escaped the inning with a 4-2 lead.

Iowa quickly got the two runs back in the bottom of the inning, with Dorighi scoring on a fielder’s choice in the 7th followed by an RBI double for Brayden Frazier.

Iowa wrapped up the scoring in the 8th with a Dorighi RBI double and a Hojnar 2-run RBI single.

Dorighi went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored.

The Hawkeyes outhit the Duhawks 13 to 5.

Starting pitcher Jack Whitlock was credited with the win, throwing a perfect first inning. The Hawkeyes used nine different pitchers on the day…one in each inning…striking out a dozen batters while walking five.

An estimated crowd of 500 endured temperatures in the mid-40’s.

Iowa head coach Rick Heller said outfielder Kyle Huckstorf was injured in batting practice before the game. He will be evaluated by a doctor on Wednesday. Hucksdorf is currently batting .389 with a home run and seven RBI.

https://twitter.com/UIBaseball/status/1630706427621949440?s=20

Checkout postgame comments from Coach Heller here: