B1G Tournament Preview: Hawkeyes Hoping for Run

It will depend on the end of the Ohio State and Maryland game, which resumes at 10 this morning, the Buckeyes leading, 3-2, in the 8th. Hawks and Husker follow that.
 
Nebraska 11, Iowa 1 in 8 innings. Huskers walk off on run-rule.

Iowa v Minnesota in elimination game tonight at approximately 7:30.
 
OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Iowa baseball team took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but proceeded to allow 11 unanswered runs to fall 11-1 in eight innings to fifth-seeded Nebraska in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday at TD Ameritrade Park.


Iowa’s run-rule loss puts the Hawkeyes into the loser’s bracket where it will face No. 4 seed Minnesota in an elimination game at approximately 8:30 p.m (CT).


Iowa starting pitcher Grant Judkins (4-7) lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and two walks. The control issues continued for Iowa’s bullpen, who walked eight batters in relief.


In the second inning, Iowa used two singles and a walk to score the game’s first run, but that was all the Hawkeye offense had to show for. Senior Mitchell Boe had Iowa’s lone RBI with a single to left field.


Following Boe, senior Chris Whelan left the bases loaded with a fly out to centerfield. Nebraska took advantage of the missed opportunity in the bottom half of the second scoring four runs.


After three hits and two walks, the Cornhuskers took a 2-1 lead, bouncing Judkins from the game. Senior Jason Foster relieved Judkins, allowing two inherited runners to score, giving Nebraska a 4-1 lead through two.


Iowa’s offense couldn’t capitalize on putting the leadoff hitter on in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, while Nebraska added a run in the third and another four-spot in the fifth inning to lead 9-1 through five.


Nebraska delivered its final blow in the eighth inning after a leadoff triple and a sacrifice fly to end the game via run-rule.


QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER

“Grant (Judkins) didn’t have a great start. He was struggling to throw strikes with all of his pitches. I was hoping he could fight threw it. We fell behind early and didn’t do too much after that.


“We were sloppy on the mound and Nebraska played clean baseball. It was a tough loss.”


On bouncing back in elimination game versus Minnesota:

“It starts on the mound. We need a quality start out of Cam Baumann. We’re playing for our lives, so hopefully Cam will step for us like Cole (McDonald) did in game one. Our bullpen’s still in good shape. Minnesota is swinging the bat well. If we pitch, it will be a good game, and we’ll have a chance to win.”


OF NOTE…

  • Sophomore Izaya Fullard went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games and his on-base streak to 23 contests.
  • Freshman Brendan Sher scored Iowa’s only run in the first inning.
  • It’s the third time this season has issued 10 or more walks. The Hawkeyes are 1-2 in such games.
UP NEXT

Iowa will face fourth-seeded Minnesota tonight at 8:30 p.m. (CT) in an elimination game. Sophomore left-hander Cam Baumann (4-4, 5.49 ERA) will start for the Hawkeyes.
 
Unfortunate but after watching 3 Big Ten tourney games it's a miracle they won 30 games this year. End the year with a 2-8 finish BRUTAL.
 
OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Iowa baseball fell, 3-0, to fourth-seeded Minnesota in a Big Ten Tournament elimination game Friday night at TD Ameritrade Park. The Hawkeyes finish the season at 31-24.


“It was a tough loss, but a great game,” said Iowa head coach Rick Heller. “I’m proud of our guys – they didn’t quit and fought until the end, like they did all season.”


On the mound, sophomore lefty Cam Baumann (4-5) took the loss after throwing four innings, while allowing one earned run on three hits and five walks. Baumann struggled with command, but was able to limit the damage.


Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third before adding two runs in the ninth inning.


Offensively, senior Chris Whelan singled in the bottom of the first and was left stranded along with junior Zeb Adreon in the first inning. Iowa left 10 runners on base for the game; Minnesota stranded 11.


Iowa had two runners on base in the fourth inning via hit-by-pitches, but again, the Hawkeyes couldn’t capitalize. The following inning in the fifth, sophomore Izaya Fullard hit into an inning-ending 4-3 double play. Minnesota starter Joshua Culliver, who allowed four hits, no runs, and struck out four, before the Gophers went to their bullpen.


The Hawkeyes went to freshman Duncan Davitt in the fifth, and he followed with three innings of scoreless relief, while punching out four.


Junior Grant Leonard, who pitched the final two innings, surrendered two ninth-inning runs to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead.


In the bottom of the ninth, Iowa put the first two runners on via a single and a hit-by-pitch, but the next three Hawkeyes were retired to end the game. Freshman Brendan Sher nearly beat out a ground ball off the pitcher’s glove on a play that was confirmed out by replay.


Iowa’s season finale lasted three hours and 46 minutes, ending 12:49 a.m. (CT).


QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER

“We didn’t get it done, but I’m happy with how these guys competed all year. They’ll go down in my memories as a team that overcame as much as any I’ve coached -- through coaching changes, injuries and tons of guys in the draft last year. We had all of our goals right in our hand, but didn’t play our best baseball at the end. We’ll remember this group fondly for a long, long time.”


OF NOTE…

  • Junior Ben Norman was the only Hawkeye with a multi-hit game with a 3-for-4 day.
  • The Hawkeyes registered zero extra-base hits.
  • Iowa will say goodbye to nine student-athletes: Chris Whelan, Mitchell Boe, Tanner Wetrich, Luke Farley, Derek Lieurance, Cole McDonald, Shane Ritter, Jason Foster, and Kyle Shimp.
 
Coaching changes right before the season, major losses to pro baseball the last two off-seasons and key injuries this spring, all and all, a commendable campaign for Heller and his Hawkeyes.
 
That was a painful game to watch last night. But overall a decent season considering what the projections were coming into the season. There were some exciting moments but that collapse at the end of the year was brutal.
 

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