Hawkeyes can't complete sweep, settle for series win at Nebraska

Locked in close battle for the third straight day, the Hawkeyes had a chance to cap off a productive weekend with a sweep.

They’ll settle for a series win.

Iowa held a one-run lead late, but Nebraska plated three in the eighth to salvage the series finale, 8-6, in Lincoln, Neb. The Hawkeyes (22-12, 5-4 Big Ten Conference) still finish the weekend with their second league series win and a 3-1 week overall.

Facing a 5-4 deficit entering the eighth, the Hawkeyes took a 6-5 lead on Matt Hoeg’s bases-loaded, two-run single, after Jake Adams (fielding error), Robert Neustrom (single) and Tyler Cropley (walk) all reached. But Nebraska (21-13-1, 5-3-1) answered back with three in the bottom half off a trio of Iowa relievers.

The Cornhuskers banged out two singles off Nick Nelsen (0-2), then Mojo Hagge smashed a go-ahead triple against Josh Martsching. Nebraska’s Angelo Altavilla capped off the late rally with an RBI single off Zach Daniels, giving the home team an 8-6 advantage.

Nebraska put up three early off starter Cole McDonald, who lasted three innings on 62 pitches. Iowa answered back with one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one more in the seventh — but couldn’t quite break the brooms out.

The Hawkeyes return to action Wednesday at Bradley before hosting Rutgers for three Friday through Sunday.

Dargan Southard covers preps, recruiting, Iowa and UNI athletics for the Iowa City Press-Citizen, The Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.