The final opportunity in a long list of them Saturday for the Iowa baseball team occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning. With the Hawkeyes trailing No. 10 Oregon State by four runs at Principal Park, Iowa put runners on second and third with one out and tried to chip into the lead the Beavers had built up.
“We just needed someone to get a hit,” said Iowa coach Rick Heller. “It was looking good.”
The hit never came. Pinch-hitter Jackson Beaman struck out for the second out of the inning. Iowa centerfielder Miles Risley followed with a hard-hit comebacker to the mound that Oregon State pitcher Nelson Keljo grabbed and threw to first for the final out. The two plays ended the last rally and put an end to Iowa’s 5-1 loss to Oregon State Saturday.
“That would have been a big one if we got a hit there,” Heller said. “We would have got them worried a little bit. But it just didn’t happen.”
Saturday’s setback marked the second-straight day the Hawkeyes came within striking distance of taking down one of the top teams in the country before falling short. Less than 24 hours earlier, Iowa rallied late in its Friday night contest against Oregon State, but gave up three runs in the eighth inning before losing 9-6.
Like Friday night, there were plenty of chances for the Hawkeyes to pick up a much-needed win to improve its RPI and boost its postseason resume. But, Iowa, which fell to 32-17 on the season, rarely could capitalize. The Hawkeyes went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, stranded eight runners on base and never could put the pressure on.
The only time the Hawkeyes came through with a big hit was in the sixth inning when Iowa second baseman Caleb Wulf, who finished 2-for-4 on the day, lined a single to center to cut into Oregon State’s lead, 4-1. Even that was short-lived. Iowa catcher Daniel Rogers struck out to end the inning, stranding two Iowa runners.
“When you have those opportunities on a day like today, somebody needs to step up and come through,” Heller said.
Hardly anyone did, at least for Iowa. Oregon State took advantage of its opportunities off Iowa starting pitcher Aaron Savary. Savary, who entered the day with a 7-0 mark, gave up a third inning walk and was punished for it by Oregon State’s Aiva Arquette, who crushed a two-run homer. Savary walked one more and hit another in the frame and then gave up a two-run double.
That was more than enough for Oregon State pitcher Dax Whitney, who struck out 11 in six strong innings of work. Whitney, with his mid-90s fastball, allowed just one run on three hits in six innings of work. Meanwhile, Savary lasted just 4.1 innings of work, giving up four runs on four hits on four walks. He struck out five but suffered his first loss of the season.
“He just wasn’t as sharp as he has been and it just happened to be a bad day for that,” Heller said.
Even though the Hawkeyes won’t win the three-game non-conference series with Oregon State, Iowa can still secure a big win against the Beavers on Sunday. That was always going to be a tall task. But it got even more difficult when Heller announced after Saturday’s game that Sunday’s starter, Reece Beuter, who is battling an injury, wouldn’t be able to pitch.
“It’s going to be a tough day for us,” Heller said. “We’re going to have to really rally.”
Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Hawkeyes baseball: Multiple rallies come up short in upset bid over No. 10 Oregon State
Reporting by Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
