The Hitter’s Club Hawkeyes overcame a four-run deficit to defeat Team Steel, 9-5, on Thursday night.
Evan Christopher started for the Hawkeyes and pitched without any major damage until the top of the 4th inning. Besides an unearned run in the top of third, Christopher had not conceded a run.
He got into trouble with the game tied in the top of the 4th, however, has he started to have problems with his command. A bases loaded walk forced in a run and three straights hit followed.
Christopher would be replaced, but the damage was done with Team Steel leading 5-1 after 3.5 innings.
Hawkeyes head coach Kevin Haverbusch was not happy with his team’s defense, particularly in that inning, but was glad to see some mistakes from Team Steel to get his team back in the game.
“We just had to take advantage of someone else making a defensive miscue or two,” Haverbusch said. “We were giving them a few free bases and free runs so it was nice to be able to take advantage of them doing that to us.”
A couple of walks and an error got a run in, and in oddly similar fashion to the top half of the inning, then came the hits.
Chris Lydon and Matt LaSala had back-to-back RBI singles to get the Hawkeyes within one, then Miguel Montesdeoca gave Hitter’s Club a lead in which they we would not cough up. A two-RBI double into the alley in left-center plated two. Montesdeoca would come around, as would the following batter to complete a seven-run bottom of the fourth.
Brian Primm would close out the game on the mound for the Hawkeyes and their ninth and final run would come from another RBI single from LaSala.
The Hawkeyes improve to 4-10 this season while Team Steel drops to 0-4.
