IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Iowa took a 2-1 decision Saturday from the No. 25 Illinois baseball team on a cold, windy, tough day to hit in Iowa City. Iowa clinched the three-game series ahead of Sunday's finale.
Iowa (14-10, 2-3 Big Ten) scored what ended up being the winning run on a controversial obstruction call at home plate. Tanner Wetrich singled in the second inning to score one run, then Ben Norman tried to score from second base. Illinois catcher Jeff Korte received the throw from left fielder Michael Michalak and tagged Norman out, but it was ruled Korte blocked the plate.
"We need to find a way to win," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "They got the big hit."
Illinois (17-7, 0-2 Big Ten) cut the Iowa lead to one on Kellen Sarver's two-out RBI single in the fifth, which also extended his hitting streak to six games and reached base streak to 12 games. That was the Illini's only run on a day they outhit Iowa, 6-5.
"I thought throughout the game we hit a number of balls hard right at people," said Hartleb. "That's part of baseball. Tomorrow is an important game for us."
Illinois was solid on the mound with Ty Weber (1-1) starting and allowing two runs on five hits over four innings. Nathan Lavender (2.0 IP, 5 K) and Quinten Sefcik (2.0 IP, 4 K) kept Iowa hitless over the final four innings and combined for nine strikeouts.
Cam Baumann (1-2) earned the win for Iowa by going six innings and allowing one run on five hits. Wallace earned a three-inning save, his first of the season.
The two teams return Sunday at 1:05 p.m. CT to Banks Field.
Notes
• Illinois is on a season-long three-game losing streak.
• Illinois' one run tied a season-low (vs. Northeastern, at Indiana State).
• No player in the game had more than one hit.
• There were no extra-base hits by either team.
• The temperature at first pitch was 42 degrees with the wind blowing in up to 20 MPH straight in from left field.
• Illinois is ranked No. 25 by D1Baseball.com.
• Hitting streaks: Massey 9, Sarver 6
• Reached base streaks: Sarver 12, Massey 9, Van Scoy 7
