The Iowa baseball team halted Michigan State’s 11-game winning streak, but then dropped its next two games to the Spartans by large deficits over the weekend.

Left-handed pitcher Jarred Hippen tossed a complete-game gem for the Hawkeyes in the first game of the series to down Michigan State, 5-3.

The sophomore scattered seven hits, allowed three runs, and struck out two hitters in the first complete game of his career.

Second baseman Mike McQuillan and center fielder Ryan Durant combined for four of Iowa’s five hits and together drove in four of the Hawkeyes’ five runs.

Iowa’s second game on April 3 was suspended because of rain, but not before Michigan State jumped out to a 16-2 lead through seven innings. The game was completed Sunday morning with the score unchanged.

Durant led the Hawkeyes with three hits, and McQuillan, Tyson Blaser, and Zach McCool all recorded two hits.

In the final game of the series on Sunday, the Spartan bats exploded for a 26-11 win. Michigan State center fielder Brandon Eckerle collected six hits, with four RBIs and five runs scored.

McCool led the Hawkeyes offensively, finishing the game with five hits in six at-bats and added two RBIs and three runs scored.

McQuillan again had a multi-hit game, with three hits in six at-bats.

Iowa will face Western Illinois at home on Tuesday.

— by J.T. Bugos