By Hawkeyesports.com

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The University of Iowa baseball team earned its seventh straight Big Ten series win with a 3-2 victory over Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Ray Fisher Stadium.

The Wolverines outhit the Hawkeyes, 9-6. Iowa left four runners on base to Michigan’s eight.

“Offensively, I thought we had some good at-bats in the first three or four innings,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Unfortunately, we had some bad ones mixed in. Even though we jumped out to lead, it could have been more. We left some runs, at least two runs, on the table with some bad execution. But, hey, we found a way to get it done and toughed out another one today. Really happy with our guys’ effort.”

Michigan (23-16, 8-9) got on the board in the first inning with a solo home run. The Hawkeyes (26-11, 16-4) tied the game in the fourth when Ben Wilmes hit an RBI sac fly. They took a 3-1 lead in the fifth after Daniel Rogers laid an RBI sacrifice squeeze bunt down the third base line and Kooper Schulte ripped a 108 MPH RBI single up the middle. The Wolverines cut their deficit to one with an RBI SAC fly in the eigthth. But, a diving catch by Miles Risley in center field bailed the Hawkeyes out of the inning and kept them in the lead.

Ben Swails was the lone Hawkeye to have a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Aaron Savary got the start and the win for Iowa; he improved to 6-0 on the season. He threw seven innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while walking two batters and striking out seven.

“Aaron Savary came out and pitched an outstanding game,” said Heller. “What a bounce back for us. It was something we really needed today after we had to go to the bullpen three times yesterday. Aaron was lights out.”

Chas Wheatley came out of the bullpen and pitched the final 1 2/3 innings to earn the save. He gave up just one hit and struck out three Wolverines.

“Chas Wheatley came in during a tough spot in the eighth and pitched great to get out of it,” said Heller. “Then he closed it out for us in the ninth. Really good effort by our pitchers holding a very good Michigan offense down like we did today.”

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes and Wolverines will finish the series off tomorrow with game three. First pitch is slated for noon (CDT). The game will be broadcast on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.