By Hawkeyesports.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania – The University of Iowa baseball team split its Saturday doubleheader against Penn State. The Hawkeyes won the first game, 9-6, before falling 8-3 in the second contest.

“I loved how our guys fought in game one,” said head coach Rick Heller. “After a rough start on the mound the offense just kept coming at them.  Keaton Anthony had a huge game. Unfortunately, game two started the same as game one and we weren’t able to come back in that one.”

Keaton Anthony was 5-for-6 in the first contest with three singles, a double, and a grand slam. He was 1-for-2 with a walk and two hit by pitches in the second game.

Ben Wilmes and Raider Tello each added two RBIs in game one, and Brennen Dorighi had two RBIs in game two.

Brody Brecht got the start in the first game and didn’t make it out of the first inning. He threw 2/3 of an inning allowing four runs on five walks and one hit. Jack Whitlock threw 5 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win, striking out five.

In game two Marcus Morgan got the start and was tagged with the loss throwing 1 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on five walks and one hit.

“It’s disappointing to lose a game where the opponent has four hits and 8 runs,” said Heller. “We did have opportunities to overcome it on offense but just couldn’t get the big hit with runners in scoring position.”

The Hawkeyes outhit the Nittany Lions, 24-10, in the two games but allowed 18 walks. Iowa left 24 runners on base to Penn State’s 12.

Of Note

• Iowa moves to 31-11 on the season and 8-6 in Big Ten Play.
• Iowa’s 17 hits in game one was the second highest of the season (18, Western Michigan, 3/25).
• Anthony is the second Hawkeye with a five hit game this season joining Raider Tello (5-for-5, Western Michigan, 3/25)
• The second game of the doubleheader was only the second time this season the Hawkeyes had outhit their opponent and lost. Iowa is now 31-2 when outhitting its opponent.

Up Next

The Hawkeyes wrap up the three-game series tomorrow with Penn State at 11 a.m. (CT) in State College, Pennsylvania.