The Western Illinois Leathernecks traveled to Iowa City on Friday, March 15, to play Iowa in the first game of a three-game series. The Hawkeyes had little trouble adjusting to the Leathernecks, finishing the game via mercy rule, 11-1.
Western Illinois got on the board first, with Kyree Alexander hitting a double to send Chris Hege in for the score. After that it was all Iowa. The Hawkeyes would score 11 straight, and with Kyle Huckstorf scoring off a Gable Mitchell single in the eighth, the lead was pushed to 10, ending the game.
Gable Mitchell led the Hawkeyes at the plate, going four-of-five with five RBIs. Chris Hege was the lone scorer for the Leathernecks.
Iowa and Western Illinois will play each other again twice on Saturday, March 16, in a doubleheader at Duane Banks Field in Iowa City.
