Iowa loses to Illinois 4-1 in game one of the series. Iowa certainly had their chances in the 1st and 2nd innings of the ball game. Iowa scored it's lone run in the 1st inning. Iowa started the game off with a double and a single, they then hit into a double play which really hurt them. Iowa followed that up with an RBI double before a ground out ended the threat.
In the 2nd inning Iowa had runners on 2nd/3rd with 1 out before they struck out looking then went down on a ground out. The 7th inning, Iowa had men on 1st/2nd with 1 out before they struck out twice. Striking out with runners in scoring position has been the story of this season.
Pitching wise for Iowa, Blake Hickman did about as much as we could ask him to do IMO, his first 4 2/3 innings were no hit baseball before a single, steal, and wild pitch allowed the runner to get to 3rd, Illinois then got a single to tie the game at 1-1.
Hickman then got in a jam in the 6th as he got the first out of the inning before giving up a walk and a single. He was then pulled and Iowa proceeded to hit the batter to load the bases, they got a lineout before a 2 RBI single allowed Illinois to take a 3-1 lead. Illinois scored one more run in the 9th via an error.
Bottom line was today Illinois got the clutch hit, Iowa did not.
Blake Hickman threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed 3 hits, 3 runs, 3 walks, and 9 K's.
Nick Hibbing threw 2 2/3 innings and allowed 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 4 K's, and 1 hit batter.
Jared Mandel threw 1 inning and allowed 1 hit.
Iowa really needs at least one victory this weekend, it's looking like the B1G tournament is going to come down to a road series @ Purdue on Thu-Sat.
