UC Irvine Series

RobHowe

RobHowe

Administrator
I'm going to try to get out to at least one game this weekend, probably Sunday.

THIS WEEK

• The University of Iowa baseball team hosts No. 18 UC Irvine in a nonconference clash at Duane Banks Field this weekend, May 3-5. It is the Anteaters first-ever trip to the state of Iowa.

• The series opener is set for 6:05 p.m. (CT) on Friday with Saturday's game two at 2:05 p.m. and Sunday's series finale at 1:05 p.m.



SERIES PROMOTIONS

Friday: American Sign Language Night. First 200 fans will receive a free T-shirt. Baseball Bingo.

Saturday: Junior Hawk Club Day, Have a Catch - play catch on the field postgame.

Sunday: Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day, Kids can run the bases postgame.



FOLLOW ALONG

• All games will be streamed live on BTN Plus on BTN2Go. It is a paid subscription service.

• All Iowa games will also be available via the Hawkeye Radio Network with Zach Mackey and Steve Duncan on the call. The games can be heard on Hawkeye All-Access/TuneIn Radio.

Friday: AM 800 KXIC Iowa City, KMJM 1360 AM in Cedar Rapids, KDEC-AM 1240 in Decorah, KKFD 95.9 FM in Fairfield.

Saturday: KMJM 1360 AM in Cedar Rapids; KKFD 95.9 FM in Fairfield, WDBQ FM 107.5 in Dubuque.

Sunday: AM 800 KXIC Iowa City, KMJM 1360 AM in Cedar Rapids; KKFD 95.9 FM in Fairfield, WDBQ FM 107.5 in Dubuque.

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GAME NOTES
 
6 - 3 dubble u vs 25th ranked Anteaters

RPI to 51

Helps that Illinois is at 20RPI and Hawks swept em
 
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Sophomore Izaya Fullard hit two home runs to drive in three runs to lead the University of Iowa to a 6-3 series-opening victory over No. 18 UC Irvine on Friday night at Duane Banks Field.

The Hawkeyes never trailed to earn their eighth win over a top-30 opponent to improve to 28-16 on the year and 17-4 at home.

"We love competing," said Fullard who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. "We feel we're one of the top teams in the country. When teams like that come here, we know we're going to defend our home field."

UC Irvine pitcher Andre Pallante, who entered the game with a 2.62 ERA in 11 starts, didn't retire Fullard once tonight in a game that was Iowa's from the get-go.

Senior Chris Whelan led off the game with a double and scored on a RBI ground out from redshirt freshman Connor McCaffery. A 1-0 lead after one blossomed to a 2-0 in the third on Fullard's first home run — a solo blast — and that was all senior starting pitcher Cole McDonald needed.

McDonald retired the first eight Anteaters he faced and pitched an effective seven innings. McDonald used a 6-3 double play from shortstop Tanner Wetrich to escape a bases-loaded jam in the fourth.

In his final inning of work, McDonald allowed two runs (one earned) to score. Still, the New Hampton, Iowa, native recorded his fifth straight quality start with five strikeouts to earn his fifth win of the season.

"This whole month of April he has been outstanding and he was outstanding again tonight," head coach Rick Heller said.

In the fifth inning, Fullard hit his second home run to nearly the same spot, just inside the left field foul pole, but this time it cleared the wall with ease.

"We knew what he was going to bring to the table," Fullard said of UC Irvine's starter. "I was trying to stick to my approach. I was seeing it well. I knew there was really nothing he could beat me with."

With a 4-2 through seven innings, Heller went to the bullpen with junior Trace Hoffman for his team-leading 24th appearance of the season. Hoffman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning before allowing a run in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER
"It was a good baseball game with two good pitchers going at it. Cole (McDonald) was good for us tonight and Trace (Hoffman) was good out of the bullpen.

"I was just waiting for Izaya (Fullard) to get hot. He has been off the barrel a little. He picked us up big time. Izaya's always been a good hitter. We need him to get hot down the stretch, especially with guys going down here and there. We need somebody to step up and it was good to see him do that."

OF NOTE…
  • Fullard is the first Hawkeye of the season to hit two home runs in a game and first since last season when Robert Neustrom hit two against Oklahoma State.
  • Fullard's five home runs are now tied for the second-most behind Ben Norman's six.
  • McDonald's ERA is at a season-best 3.42, having allowed two or fewer runs in five straight games.
UP NEXT
Saturday's game two is set for a 2:05 p.m. (CT) first pitch. Sophomore left-hander Cam Baumann (3-2, 4.96 ERA) will start for the Hawkeyes.
 
I just noticed Irvine's RPI now down to 53, I thought they were much higher than that as 2 polls has them ranked.
 
Any updates on how today’s game is going? I haven’t got BTN2GO and no local radio here in Minnesota covering game.
 
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- One run was enough for the University of Iowa baseball team, who shutout 18th-ranked UC Irvine, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.


The Hawkeyes improve to 29-16 on the season and 18-4 at home, while the Anteaters fall to 28-12.


“We’re playing with a ton of confidence,” said closer Grant Leonard, who notched his 12th save. “It was great to get this one in front of our home crowd. We’re playing really good right now at a perfect time. It’s fun to be around here.”


In the fifth inning, Iowa pushed across the game’s only run after redshirt sophomore Tanner Padgett doubled with one out on a ball UC Irvine right fielder Konnor Zickefoose lost in the sun. It was Iowa’s first hit of the game against starter Trenton Denholm, who threw a complete game, spanning eight innings with eight strikeouts.


Senior Tanner Wetrich then drove in the game-winning run on a line drive up the middle that deflected off of Denholm’s throwing hand. Wetrich beat the throw out and it was enough for the Hawkeye pitchers, who didn’t allow a hit or run in the final four innings.


“For Tanner to step up and deliver there was huge,” said Iowa head coach Rick Heller.


In the top half of the fifth, the Hawkeyes turned an unconventional 6-5-4-3 double play to preserve a 0-0 tie. UC Irvine left 10 runners on base for the game.


Senior Jason Foster relieved starter Cam Baumann, who scattered seven hits over five innings to earn the win, in the sixth inning with two runners on. Foster didn’t allow either inherited runner to score, retiring all three batters he faced in the sixth.


Foster’s seventh was just as dominant, going 1-2-3 against UC Irvine’s top of the order. The Hawkeyes called upon Leonard for the final two innings. He faced six batters, allowing only one to reach on a fielding error. The right-hander from Mokena, Illinois, struck out leadoff batter Mike Peabody -- one of this three K’s -- to end the game and record his first six-out save of the season.


“It felt good to get in there and get six outs,” said Leonard. “My arm is in a great spot right now, so I was able to do it.”


Leonard’s 12th save of the season is only behind Kevin Lee’s 13 in 2010 for the most in a single season in Hawkeye history.


QUOTING HEAD COACH RICK HELLER

“Sometimes you have to find a way to get it done and today was one of those days. Cam (Baumann) worked out of some jams all day long and showed a lot of toughness. To me, the big key was Jason Foster coming in and bridging before we could go to Leonard. He did an outstanding job and that’s great to see as we head down the stretch.


“Hopefully we can come out tomorrow and play well like we’ve been doing. If we get another one, that’d be great. If not, then we have to keep playing well and giving our self a chance to win.”


OF NOTE…

  • Iowa’s six straight series wins are the most since 2015.
  • Today was Iowa’s first shutout win since game two of the season -- a 10-0 victory over Pittsburgh.
  • Baumann improved to 4-2 this season, winning two of his last three starts.
UP NEXT

Sunday’s series finale is set for a 1:05 p.m. (CT) first pitch with junior Grant Judkins (4-5, 2.11 ERA) toeing the rubber.
 
Huge series win, hopefully they can cure the G3 blues. Iowa RPI is now 49th.
 
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dammit dammit dammit...down 5-1 in the 5th inning. Gonna need a huge comeback.

Maybe it's you Rob! lol
 
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