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April 26, 2006

Box Score

Cedar Rapids, Iowa -

Riding on the back of sophomore Aaron Jenkins (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), who pitched a season-high seven innings and struck out a season-best 10, University of Northern Iowa baseball defeated Iowa, 4-2, Wednesday evening.  The Panthers improved to 3-0 in the annual Corridor Classic. Southpaw Jenkins only allowed two runs, both in the first inning, and then worked six scoreless innings.

"This is a big pride game for us every year," head coach Rick Heller said. "We have a lot of alumni and fans in attendance who do not usually see another game and it is great to know they will be going home proud. We played excellent small ball and we really needed to, because were not swinging well. Our guys did a good job and Aaron Jenkins pitched so well; he pitched outstanding."

Sophomore Jesse Oster (Redding, Calif.) contributed one inning, using only eight pitches to close out the eighth and sophomore Saturday-night starter Taylor Sinclair (Indianola, Iowa) earned his first collegiate save, striking out one and serving up a groundout to end the game.

The Panthers trailed until the top of the eighth and then took the lead with clutch hits and well-executed small ball. Leadoff batter senior Mark Frieske (Spokane, Wash.) started the Panther rally, out-hustling a throw from third base and then senior Pat Moran (Rapid City, S.D.) walked. Freshman Brandon Douglas (St. Charles, Iowa) put the two runners in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.  The Panthers' leading RBI guy, sophomore Brett Featherston (Epworth, Iowa), tied the game with a single up the middle to score Frieske.

Brett Douglas then laid down another sacrifice bunt, scoring the go-ahead run to give UNI a 3-2 advantage. The Panthers added a security run in the top of the ninth on a successful suicide squeeze. 

Iowa took a 2-0 in the bottom of the first after Jenkins fanned the leadoff batter and Jason White knocked an RBI triple to right center field.  Designated hitter Brian Burmester then took a RBI single through the left side. Junior Nick Cameron led off the top of the third, slicing a double and then advancing to third on an error by the center fielder.  He was then stranded with two Panther strikeouts and a fly out to center.

UNI got on the board in the top of the fourth.  Brandon Douglas and Featherston drew back-to-back walks and then Brett Douglas sliced a ball through the left side to score his twin brother Brandon from second.

Senior catcher Nate Trumm caught a season-high three batters stealing. UNI now has won five of the last six meetings with Iowa.

UNI improves to 20-21, 4-8 in the MVC and hosts Southern Illinois Friday-Sunday. The Panthers and Hawkeyes will meet up again May 16 at Riverfront Stadium.  The game will be tape-delayed on CFU Channel 15.