SDSU wins marathon at Iowa

Tuesday, March 29

Iowa City, Iowa

4 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Iowa

3/29/2011 11:02:00 PM | Baseball

By: SDSU Sports Info

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Eric Cain's bases-clearing double with two outs in the top of the 14^th inning lifted South Dakota State to a 7-4 victory over Iowa in the opening game of a two-game series Tuesday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.

The Jackrabbits, playing in their longest game at the Division I level, posted their fifth consecutive victory to improve to 8-9 overall. Iowa dropped to 9-12.

SDSU appeared on the verge of victory after putting together a rally to go ahead 4-3. Jesse Sawyer and Cain opened the inning with back-to-back singles and later advanced one base each on a sacrifice bunt by Beau Hanowski. Pinch-hitter Phil Paquette plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly and Cain came around to score on a throwing error.

However, the Hawkeyes tied the game in the bottom of the ninth against SDSU closer Trever Vermeulen. Chett Zeise opened the frame with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a double by Trevor Willis.

The game remained knotted at 4-all until the 14^th, when the top of the Jackrabbit lineup came through in the clutch. Billy Stitz and Andrew Phelan started the rally with back-to-back singles off Jeff Pacha and both runners moved up a base on an errant pickoff attempt with one out. Zach Rhodes was then intentionally walked to load the bases. After Sawyer fouled out, Cain lined a pitch to the alley in right-center field to give SDSU the lead for good.

Alex Oberle struck out two batters in the bottom of the 14^th to end the game and his three-inning stint of scoreless relief. Oberle struck out three, walked one and allowed three hits as he improved to 2-3 on the season.

Jackrabbit starter Blake Treinen struck out 10 Iowa batters and did not walk a batter as he surrendered three runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. SDSU's four pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts

SDSU took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Rhodes led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hanowski. Phelan doubled in Stitz with the Jackrabbit run in the third inning that put SDSU ahead 2-1.

Phelan and Cain each tallied four of the Jackrabbits' 13 hits in the contest. Andrew Ewing was 3-for-5 to lead Iowa's 12-hit attack.

The two teams are scheduled to play the series finale Wednesday at 4:05 p.m.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 7, IOWA 4 (14 inn.)
SDSU 011 000 002 000 03 7-13-0
IOWA 011 000 011 000 00 4-12-4
SDSU: Blake Treinen, Kolton Emery (8), Trever Vermeulen (9), Alex Oberle (12) and Zach Briggs, Joel Blake. IOWA: Ricky Sandquist, Tim Fangman (7), Kevin Lee (9), Patrick Lala (9), Jeff Pacha (11) and Keith Brand.
W-Oberle (2-3). L-Pacha (0-1). Save-none.
HR: none.