Senior starting pitcher Kyle Hart went the distance for the third time in his career Friday. He allowed just one unearned run while scattering four hits in the series opening 7-1 victory against Iowa.
Hart was supported on the mound by three Hoosier home runs in the game to extend IU’s win streak to a season high seven games.
“The quality at-bats are really helping us,” Hart said. “And then pitching, all them guys back there in the bullpen have been so good, and then we’re getting good starts and being competitive in the zone.”
A complete pitchers duel was brewing early in the game with Hart and Iowa starting pitcher C.J. Eldred tossing up zeros throughout the first four innings, allowing two hits apiece. Hart worked a scoreless top half of the fifth as the Hoosiers finally broke through against Eldred in the bottom half.
A leadoff double from freshman third baseman Luke Miller gave the Hoosiers their first runner in scoring position on the night. They wasted little time. Junior first baseman Austin Cangelosi followed with a high chopper over the head of the third baseman to score Miller from second, giving IU a one-run lead.
An eventual double play emptied the bases, but junior second baseman Tony Butler still got the job done at the plate. The nine hitter sent a 1-0 fastball beyond the bullpen in left field for his second home run of the season, giving the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead.
“We had just gotten a double play, so I was pretty sure he was going to come with a few fastballs,” Butler said. “He missed with the first one, and I had a good idea a fastball was coming and I just put a good swing on it.”
Freshman catcher Ryan Fineman extended his career best hitting streak to 13 games after singling to shallow right field in the fourth. In the sixth, the backstop stepped up to the plate and belted his third home run of the season to put the Hoosiers up three, which was more than enough run support for Hart on the mound.
The senior ace allowed his only run of the game off a two out double in the seventh after the runner, who initially reached on an error to lead off the inning, came around to score. Hart eclipsed the 200 career strikeout mark, punching out five Hawkeyes on the night while picking up his Big Ten best seventh win of the season.
With the game almost in the books, IU added four insurance runs in the eighth. A pinch-hit RBI single from sophomore Chris Lowe extended the lead to three and an eventual three-run bomb off the bat of Miller sealed the victory.
It was the first career home run for Miller after hitting the ball off the top of the wall numerous times this year. Lemonis said to get that home run was huge for him hopefully getting that monkey off his back.
“Offense was great tonight, you score seven runs I feel like I should be able to handle that as far as limiting the other team to less than seven,” Hart said. “Today was one of those days where I woke up and felt like as a competitor I was going to go out and dominate, and it feels good to just come out and help your team win tonight.”
