Maybe it was fitting in a sick, pull-your-hair out, demented kind of way. A record-tying baseball season for the Iowa Hawkeyes ended with a record-tying bit of dubious history.
First, the positives: Iowa advanced to the NCAA Tournament for just the sixth time in program history and for the third time under head coach Rick Heller. It’s also the first regional appearance for the Hawkeyes since 2017. After its thrilling, marathon win over North Carolina earlier today in 13 innings, Iowa tied its single-season record for wins with 44. The 1981 Hawkeye squad also accomplished that feat.
Now, the season’s final frustrations.
Iowa fell to No. 14 overall seed Indiana State in the Terre Haute Regional final, 11-8. Along the way, Hawkeye pitchers combined to tie the NCAA’s all-time, single- mark for hit batters. Iowa joined TCU against Baylor in March of 2012, Fordham against Saint Joseph’s in April of 2009 and Rice against Washington in May of 1998 as programs that have plunked 10 opposing hitters in a single game.
Knowing they entered the regional final taxed on arms, Iowa tried valiantly to muster up enough offense to get the Hawkeyes from Sunday night to a winner-take-all if-necessary game on Monday.
Iowa struck first with an RBI single from redshirt sophomore Raider Tello to bring home junior shortstop Michael Seegers in the first. Then, fifth-year first baseman Brennen Dorighi tied it at three apiece in the third with a two-run blast.
Hawkeye fans understandably allowed themselves to hope about Iowa taking the long road back into the Super Regionals during the fourth inning. One of the heroes in Iowa’s extra innings win earlier today against North Carolina, freshman Blake Guerin delivered again.
He launched a two-run blast to put Iowa in front 5-4. Then, Seegers singled and junior catcher Cade Moss came home to score on a Sycamore throwing error. Suddenly, Iowa led by a pair of runs.
Alas, it wouldn’t last. Ultimately, 16 free bases from the Hawkeyes—10 hit batters and six walks—were just too much to overcome.
Indiana State scored two runs in the fifth, two more in the sixth and then a three-run homer from Keegan Watson officially put things out of reach.
With the season on the line, Hawkeye fans reacted as expected across social media. Some temporary joy and hope, but some serious, serious deflation as well.
Here’s some of the key Hawkeye highlights and the best from Iowa fans reacting on social media.