Iowa baseball uses big first inning for decisive victory over Upper Iowa

IOWA CITY — No let down and no problem.

It didn’t take long for Iowa to show it was locked in after last weekend’s Big Ten baseball series sweep over previous league leader Nebraska.

The Hawkeyes amassed 12 runs and pounded nine hits in the first inning of a 16-0 win in seven innings over Upper Iowa Tuesday at Duane Banks Field. Iowa claimed its fifth straight victory, improving to 30-10 this season.

“I don’t know if it would have mattered who we were playing the way the offense came out that first inning,” Iowa Coach Rick Heller said. “That was a great sign after this weekend that there was absolutely zero lack of focus.”

Iowa (30-10) sent 16 batters to the plate in the opening frame. All nine starters reached base in the first with eight recording hits. Ben Wilmes was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Keaton Anthony followed with a base hit and Brennen Dorghi smacked an RBI double to bring in Wilmes to start the scoring.

After two straight outs, the Hawkeyes followed with 10 straight hits and walks. Michael Seegers had a two-run double and Kyle Huckstorf and Wilmes had RBI singles during the stretch. Sam Petersen provided the biggest boost.

Petersen belted a grand slam over the left field wall to make it 12-0.

“You need one of them at my age once in a while,” Heller said. “Really impressive how we came out offensively. Nine two-out RBIs in a row,” Heller said. “Just barrel after barrel after barrel. Guys were locked in.

“Petersen with a big grand slam. Dorighi hit some balls (and) drove in three runs. Did a lot of damage really quick.”

Iowa added two more in the third and sixth innings. Dorighi had an RBI single in the third and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Will Mulflur in the sixth. Gable Mitchell’s walk brought in Raider Tello in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Brayden Frazier, Dorighi and Huckstorf each had two hits apiece to lead Iowa. Frazier added a walk to reach base in all three plate appearances. Tello had three RBIs as well.

Iowa had 11 batters contribute to the 14-hit outburst. Former Linn-Mar prep Coy Sarsfield had a single and walk as one of six reserves to play multiple innings.

Six Hawkeyes stymied the Peacocks batters. They combined for the four-hit shutout. Starter Zach Voelker went the first two innings. The rest struck out eight batters. Reliever Will Christopherson struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.

“The pitching staff, for the most part, did a really nice job,” Heller said. “Limited free bases.

“Defensively, we were solid. Got everybody in the game. That was as good as you could draw it up.”

Heller said he appreciated Upper Iowa’s willingness to squeeze in a midweek game. The Peacocks traveled to Sioux Falls, S.D., to play Wednesday.

“We were in a real pinch,” Heller said. “Something happened with the new coach at Western Illinois and we were supposed to play them. We’ve played them on this day every year and somehow he didn’t have it down and they scheduled a home game. It was late and we couldn’t find a (NCAA Division I) team that could play us. Called a bunch of schools and Coach (Jeremy) Ische was the only one that agreed to come down and play.

“Really appreciate him doing that pinched between a couple conference games.”

Ryan Hull, former Decorah prep Cael Luzum, Victor Plaz and Bryce Hall each had a hit for Upper Iowa (15-24). Hull and Hall also walked.