Iowa baseball falls short at Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — The Iowa baseball team suffered a Big Ten Conference series-opening loss Friday at Minnesota.

The Golden Gophers defeated the Hawkeyes, 4-1, at Siebert Field in Minneapolis.

Iowa (10-13, 2-2 Big Ten) got on the board first in the top of the second inning when second baseman Zach Daniels hit an RBI single, driving in Justin Guzzo.

That would be all the run support the Hawkeyes would get.

Minnesota (13-9, 1-0) got two runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to an RBI single from Matt Fielder and an RBI groundout from Connor Schaefbauer.

The Golden Gophers scored two more runs in the sixth. Micah Coffey recorded an RBI single and Schaefbauer, despite hitting into a double play, plated Fielder in the process.

Hawkeye starting pitcher C.J. Eldred (2-3) suffered the loss. He went all eight innings for Iowa, allowing four runs (all earned) off six hits. He stuck out four batters and walked two.

Fielder earned the win for Minnesota to remain undefeated at 3-0. He tossed seven innings and struck out six Hawkeye batters.

Daniels led the Hawkeyes at the plate, going 2-for-4 with the lone RBI. Fielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI, too.

Iowa and Minnesota will play Game 2 of the three-game conference series at 2 p.m. on Saturday.