IOWA CITY, Iowa – Eric Cain’s bases-clearing double with two outs in the top of the 14th inning lifted South Dakota State to a 7-4 victory over Iowa in the opening game of a two-game series Tuesday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.

The Jackrabbits, playing in their longest game at the Division I level, posted their fifth consecutive victory to improve to 8-9 overall. Iowa dropped to 9-12.

SDSU appeared on the verge of victory after putting together a rally to go ahead 4-3. Jesse Sawyer and Cain opened the inning with back-to-back singles and later advanced one base each on a sacrifice bunt by Beau Hanowski. Pinch-hitter Phil Paquette plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly and Cain came around to score on a throwing error.

However, the Hawkeyes tied the game in the bottom of the ninth against SDSU closer Trever Vermeulen. Chett Zeise opened the frame with a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a double by Trevor Willis.

The game remained knotted at 4-all until the 14th, when the top of the Jackrabbit lineup came through in the clutch. Billy Stitz and Andrew Phelan started the rally with back-to-back singles off Jeff Pacha and both runners moved up a base on an errant pickoff attempt with one out. Zach Rhodes was then intentionally walked to load the bases. After Sawyer fouled out, Cain lined a pitch to the alley in right-center field to give SDSU the lead for good.

Jackrabbit starter Blake Treinen struck out 10 Iowa batters and did not walk a batter as he surrendered three runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings of work. SDSU’s four pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.