Tag: Iowa baseball

Iowa Hawkeyes baseball vs. Indiana State: TV, stream, game notes for Sunday

After dispatching of North Carolina, Iowa gets another crack at Indiana State. Here’s when and how Hawkeye fans can watch tonight.

The Iowa Hawkeyes survived a 13-inning thriller over North Carolina, downing the Tar Heels with an RBI triple from junior shortstop Michael Seegers to plate redshirt freshman Coy Sarsfield en route to the 6-5 win.

Now, Iowa gets another chance at No. 14 overall seed Indiana State after a crushing loss Saturday night. Despite sophomore Brody Brecht’s terrific start through seven innings, Iowa couldn’t make a 4-2 lead hold up against the Sycamores in the eighth inning.

Indiana State used an RBI, bases-loaded walk from Mike Sears and then back-to-back doubles from Miguel Rivera and Grant Magill to turn that 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 win.

Iowa is turning to redshirt sophomore Zach Voelker for the start against Indiana State on Sunday. It’ll be the Granite Bay, California, native’s second start in 2023. With a Hawkeye win, the two teams would meet again Monday in a winner-take-all contest to advance to the super regionals.

Here’s when are where Hawkeye fans can tune in to watch Iowa in the regional final against Indiana State.

Still alive! Social media reacts as Michael Seegers extends Iowa’s season with 13th-inning heroics

Iowa is still alive! Twitter reacts as Michael Seegers’ RBI triple in the 13th sends the Hawks past UNC and into the regional finals.

It wasn’t the preferred path after the Iowa Hawkeyes took a 5-2 lead over the North Carolina Tar Heels into the eighth inning, but it’ll work all the same.

The Hawkeyes survived a marathon, extra-innings affair with the Heels. They used an RBI triple by junior shortstop Michael Seegers to plate redshirt freshman Coy Sarsfield in the 13th inning en route to a 6-5 win.

Seegers’ heroics wouldn’t have been possible without a pinch-hit single from freshman Blake Guerin to set up Sarsfield on the base paths. Nor would it have happened without a Herculean effort from redshirt junior Will Christophersen in relief.

After the Hawkeyes coughed up that 5-2 lead with a game-tying solo blast from UNC’s Mac Horvath in the ninth, Christophersen entered and went the rest of the way for Iowa.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound reliever from Bettendorf, Iowa, pitched 4 2/3 no-hit, scoreless innings with four strikeouts to pave the way for Seegers’ RBI triple in the 13th.

Though junior Ty Langenberg didn’t wind up the winning pitcher, his seven-plus innings were pivotal in setting the stage for Iowa to wind up in the final. The Hawkeye starter allowed four earned runs after sophomore Jack Whitlock couldn’t quite wiggle out of the trouble in the eighth that Langenberg left him.

Still, it was the start the Hawkeyes needed and were looking for.

Early on, it looked like Wofford graduate transfer Brennen Dorighi’s three-run blast in the fifth would represent the winning touches for the Hawks. While it ultimately wasn’t, the fifth-year player’s homer erased an early 2-1 deficit and put Iowa in front 4-2.

After all of it though, the Hawkeyes managed to outlast North Carolina and win a dramatic extra-innings affair.

Now, Iowa needs to beat Indiana State twice to capture the Terre Haute Regional championship and advance into the super regionals. The Hawkeyes will play the Sycamores Sunday night at 5 p.m. CT. If they win, the two teams will meet again Monday in a winner-take-all contest.

Naturally, Hawkeye Twitter was feeling much better than last night after the wild win over UNC. Here’s the best reactions to the massive elimination game victory.

Iowa Hawkeyes baseball vs. North Carolina: TV, stream, game notes for Sunday

With the season on the line, a win would tie Iowa’s single-season wins record. Here’s how to watch the Hawkeyes versus North Carolina.

It’s Iowa-North Carolina part two. This time, everything is on the line in an  elimination game.

Iowa opened its sixth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance by topping North Carolina, 5-4, to move into the winners’ bracket.

The Hawkeyes jumped in front with a two-run double from redshirt junior Sam Hojnar in the first. Iowa added a run in the second on sophomore Ben Wilmes’ RBI single to build a 3-0 lead.

Behind a strong start from sophomore Marcus Morgan and a good relief appearance from sophomore Jack Whitlock, Iowa led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Hawkeyes added a pair of insurance runs on redshirt junior Brayden Frazier’s RBI single and junior Cade Moss’ sacrifice bunt.

Those two runs proved pivotal once everything went sideways on redshirt junior reliever Will Christophersen in the ninth. Fortunately, redshirt junior Luke Llewellyn came in and struck out UNC’s Tomas Frick and Hunter Stokely to lock down the win and earn the save.

It looked like Iowa (43-15, 15-8 Big Ten) was on its way to the regional championship Saturday night, too. Leading Indiana State, 4-2, the Hawkeyes needed six outs to advance in the winners’ bracket and sit a victory away from the super regionals.

Instead, more bullpen troubles emerged for the Hawkeyes as the Sycamores once again conjured eighth-inning magic in the Terre Haute Regional. Indiana State plated five runs off Iowa redshirt senior Jared Simpson and Llewellyn, and the Sycamores handed the Hawkeyes a 7-4 loss.

That brings us to the rematch Sunday morning. Here’s when and where fans can tune into the Hawkeyes against the Tar Heels (36-23, 14-14 ACC). Plus, some game notes.

Social media reacts as Iowa bullpen collapses late in loss to Indiana State Sycamores

Twitter reacted as a nightmarish eighth inning turned what looked like a win into a costly 7-4 loss for Iowa baseball against Indiana State.

It was all going according to script. The Iowa Hawkeyes were off to the regional championship and one win away from the Super Regionals.

Keyed by sophomore starter Brody Brecht’s gem, Iowa had rallied back from an early deficit promptly and then plated a pair in the sixth to move within a win away from the postseason’s next round.

Instead, it all went haywire for Iowa (43-15, 15-8 Big Ten) in the eighth. For Indiana State (44-15, 24-3 Missouri Valley Conference), it was shades of its regional opener.

Trailing 4-2 heading into the eighth, Iowa turned to redshirt senior reliever Jared Simpson. Simpson managed just one out. He hit ISU’s Randal Diaz to begin the eighth. After a brief recovery to strike out Indiana State’s Josue Urdaneta, the Sycamores used a high infield single from Luis Hernandez and Adam Pottinger to load the bases.

Indiana State’s Mike Sears drew an RBI walk and suddenly the Sycamores were back within one. That’s when Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller turned to the hero from last night, redshirt junior reliever Luke Llewellyn.

The Urbandale, Iowa, native did inch Iowa within one out of escaping this potentially season-altering jam when he sat Parker Stinson down swinging. But, Miguel Rivera and Grant Magill delivered back-to-back doubles to put Indiana State in front for good and to bust it wide open, 7-4.

That was the final margin as the Hawkeyes sink to the loser’s bracket where a rematch against North Carolina awaits tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. CT.

Hawkeye Twitter reacted with disdain as Iowa wasted a seven-inning, two-run, eight strikeout performance from Brecht.

Everything Rick Heller said after Iowa’s tournament-opening win over North Carolina

Rick Heller and Iowa picked up their first NCAA Tournament win in six years. Here’s what coach had to say about the Hawks’ performance.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are marching on to the winner’s bracket tonight versus the host Indiana State Sycamores.

Iowa let things get interesting late, but Luke Llewellyn made sure to slam the door shut on a captivating 5-4 win over North Carolina.

Now, it’s the matchup that many wanted to see. Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller against his former team. Before all of that, here’s what coach had to say about a terrific win that was for the Hawkeyes with Hawk Central.

Marcus Morgan, Luke Llewellyn recap exhilarating North Carolina win

Marcus Morgan gave Iowa a terrific start and then Luke Llewellyn was nails late. The pair broke down the 5-4 win over North Carolina.

As expected in a high-stakes game, Iowa’s NCAA Tournament-opening win over North Carolina wasn’t without plenty of heroes and high drama.

Redshirt junior Sam Hojnar got the scoring started for the Iowa Hawkeyes with a two-RBI double in the first, but some insurance runs in the eighth helped push the Hawks over the top.

Before that, Iowa got a terrific start from sophomore right-handed pitcher Marcus Morgan. The 6-foot-2, 200 pound righty gave Iowa five innings of one-run ball to get its tourney stay started.

Then, after a great relief appearance from sophomore right-hander Jack Whitlock, the Hawkeyes turned to redshirt junior righty Luke Llewellyn in a tense moment in the ninth.

Usually reliable redshirt junior right-hander Will Christophersen struggled. He surrendered a two-run blast in the ninth to bring the score back within 5-3 and then exited with a pair of Tar Heels aboard and just one away.

After allowing a double that pulled UNC back within one run, Llewellyn locked the win down with back-to-back strikeouts of Tomas Frick and Hunter Stokely.

It made for a thrilling win in Iowa’s return to the postseason for the first time in six years. The Hawkeyes play host Indiana State in the winner’s bracket game tonight at 5 p.m. CT.

Morgan and Llewellyn caught up with the media afterwards and shared their thoughts on the win. Here’s the postgame session courtesy of Hawk Central and their full remarks below.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Iowa Hawkeyes baseball vs. Indiana State: TV, stream, game notes for Saturday

Iowa is in the winner’s bracket tonight versus host Indiana State! Here’s how to watch and follow the Hawkeyes versus the Sycamores.

It’s a winners’ bracket date for the Iowa Hawkeyes Saturday night versus the host and No. 14 seed Indiana State Sycamores from Bob Warn Field in Terre Haute, Indiana.

After hanging on for a thrilling 5-4 tournament-opening win over North Carolina, the Hawks would be one victory away from advancing to the super regionals if they can top Indiana State tonight.

There are plenty of storylines in this one, but the big one coming in is the return of Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller to where he coached before.

Of course, these two teams opened the season in the Snowbird Baseball Classic in Port Charlotte, Florida on Feb. 17.

Kyle Huckstorf played the role of hero that day, belting a walk-off grand slam to hand the Hawkeyes a 6-2 win over Indiana State. Heller knew then  Iowa had beaten a very good team.

“Couldn’t ask for more it was a great baseball game between two really good teams. Two really good arms. Anytime you play in a situation like that where every pitch matters, whether its game one or game fifty, and you see your guys hang in there and compete and get out of some tough jams it makes you proud. Really proud of our guys,” Heller said after the season-opening win.

Junior right-hander Ty Langenberg started versus ISU to open the season, throwing five innings and allowing two earned runs. Then, redshirt senior Jared Simpson and redshirt junior Will Christophersen combined for six shutout innings to secure the win.

Little did any of us know a rematch would be in store almost four months later with much higher stakes. The winner moves oh-so-close to the Super Regionals, while the loser would have to take the long way forward with three more wins to collect in order to advance to the next round.

Here’s where and how Hawkeye fans can tune into the big game tonight. Plus, several notes on the matchup.

Cool hand Luke! Twitter exhales as Iowa opens NCAA tourney with 5-4 win over North Carolina

Twitter reacted as Iowa hung on for a thrilling 5-4 NCAA Tournament-opening win over North Carolina. Here’s the best reactions.

For the first time in six years, Iowa Hawkeyes baseball took part in the NCAA Tournament.

So far, so good.

Though he worked around trouble, Iowa right-handed pitcher Marcus Morgan threw five innings of two-hit, one-run baseball versus North Carolina to key the 5-4 win.

The sophomore struck out five to work around four walks and leave six Tar Heel runners stranded. In the first, Morgan induced a fly out and a ground out from UNC juniors Tomas Frick and Hunter Stokely to strand a pair aboard.

Then, in the fourth, Morgan avoided the big inning. With the bases loaded, Morgan got North Carolina’s Alberto Osuna to fly out to center for a sacrifice fly. Then, after a hit by pitch of UNC’s Colby Wilkerson, Cook grounded out to end the threat.

Meanwhile, redshirt junior second baseman Sam Hojnar got the party started offensively right away with a two-out double into left field to plate fifth-year senior first baseman Brennen Dorighi and sophomore left fielder Sam Petersen. Just like that it was 2-0 Iowa.

The Hawkeyes extended their lead to three runs when redshirt junior right fielder Brayden Frazier and junior catcher Cade Moss delivered a one-out single and double, respectively, to put a pair in scoring position. Sophomore designated hitter Ben Wilmes’ infield single plated Frazier to pad the Iowa lead at 3-0.

The Hawks tacked on a pair of what proved to be game-winning insurance runs in the eighth with a Frazier RBI single to bring home junior shortstop Michael Seegers and a RBI sacrifice bunt from Moss to plate redshirt junior center fielder Kyle Huckstorf. That made it a 5-1 Iowa advantage.

It grew plenty stressful late, though. The Hawkeyes turned to redshirt junior reliever Will Cristophersen to record the game’s final three outs. It didn’t go according to plan.

Cristophersen walked the first batter he saw, North Carolina’s Johnny Castagnozzi. Osuna promptly delivered a two-run blast to halve the deficit. After Wilkerson singled, Christophersen induced a ground ball fielder’s choice to get the inning’s first out at second base.

After UNC’s Mac Horvath walked, Iowa made the decision to look Luke Llewellyn’s direction to save the day.

Jackson Van De Brake doubled to bring North Carolina back within one run, but Llewellyn calmly responded by striking out Frick and Stokely to send Iowa into the winners’ bracket. The Hawkeyes will meet host Indiana State at 5 p.m. Saturday night from Bob Warn Field.

As you’d expect, Twitter was jumping for joy and then pulling its hair out late. In the end, Hawkeye Nation was more than happy with how things turned out.

Here’s the best social media reactions.

North Carolina missing ACC Defensive Player of the Year versus Iowa Hawkeyes

North Carolina will be without star outfielder and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Vance Honeycutt tonight against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

After a terrific season, Iowa (42-14, 15-8 Big Ten) heads to the Terre Haute Regional as the No. 2 seed. The Hawkeyes will meet No. 3 seed North Carolina (35-22, 14-14 ACC) at 6 p.m. CT on the ACC Network and ESPN+.

The winner will advance into a winner’s bracket contest against Indiana State tomorrow night at 5 p.m., while the loser will have to turn around quickly and play Wright State tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. The Sycamores erased a three-run deficit and rallied back late to top the Raiders, 6-5, in their first time hosting.

Coming in, this looked like it could be one of the most competitive regionals nationally. Iowa already beat Indiana State to open the season and North Carolina owns 19 top-100 RPI wins. Plus, the Hawkeyes’ pitching staff should give them a chance versus anybody.

Iowa got a bit of good news from North Carolina skipper Scott Forbes, though. In its regional opener, the Hawkeyes won’t have to worry about the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and Tar Heel superstar Vance Honeycutt.

Per Inside Carolina, Forbes confirmed that Honeycutt has been ruled out of the Terre Haute Regional. Honeycutt has been dealing with a lower-back injury and hasn’t played in North Carolina’s last seven games.

“If we go on a run and we get to Omaha, you always have hope. But Vance will not be available for the regional,” Forbes confirmed on Monday.

Prior to this seven-game stretch, the 6-foot-3, 205 pound sophomore center fielder hadn’t missed a start in center field since arriving on campus. While Honeycutt grabbed ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, his bat is lethal as well.

The Salisbury, N.C., native hit a UNC-record 25 home runs last season and has 12 blasts in 2023. He is also a threat on the base paths, racking up 48 steals in 57 career attempts.

Honeycutt has a knack for this time of year, too. He hit .400 (6-for-15) during the ACC Tournament last season, while belting four homers and driving in 10 runs. In the NCAA regional, he hit .400 (10-for-25) with four more homers and eight RBI.

That was a key catalyst for UNC advancing one win away from Omaha. Though Honeycutt is a dynamic player, Forbes made it clear that his first responsibility is protecting Honeycutt’s health now and going forward.

“My job as the head coach here is to take care of our players first. And Vance Honeycutt’s going to be playing baseball for a long time, way past probably me even coaching—that long, he’s that talented. So you get the doctors’ opinions, and we have to do what’s best for Vance. And Vance, he wants to play. But until that lower back heals completely, it’s just one of those things. You have to rest to heal it,” Forbes said.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF

Rick Heller not expecting missing players back in NCAA Baseball Tournament

Rick Heller told Sirius XM’s “Big Ten This Morning” show that he doesn’t expect Iowa’s missing players to return in the NCAA Tournament.

The Iowa Hawkeyes begin their run in the program’s sixth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance tonight at 6 p.m. versus North Carolina on the ACC Network and ESPN+.

Unfortunately, the reality is sinking in that Iowa will be without Collegiate Baseball third-team All-American Keaton Anthony during its postseason run. He has missed the Hawkeyes’ past 13 games.

The Hoschton, Georgia, native leads the Hawkeyes with a .389 batting average and 22 doubles. Anthony’s .701 slugging percentage and his .505 on base percentage both lead Iowa among hitters with more than 30 at bats.

The 6-foot-4, 211 pound redshirt sophomore registered 61 hits, 38 RBIs, and hit nine home runs. Anthony scored 51 runs. His 110 total bases this season rank second, while Anthony’s hits, runs scored and home runs rank fourth on the Hawkeyes.

Anthony was one of several prominent Hawkeye baseball players withheld from play as Iowa’s athletics department explored “a potential NCAA violation.” Other notable names connected to the investigation included Jacob Henderson, Ben Tallman and Gehrig Christensen.

On the Monday following the Ohio State series, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission told Action Network that it had launched an investigation into the Hawkeyes’ baseball program.

It wasn’t long after that when the University of Iowa’s Office of Strategic Communication announced that it had received information on 26 student-athletes from baseball, football, men’s basketball, men’s track and field, men’s wrestling and one full-time employee of the UI Department of Athletics involved in the gambling probe.

Ahead of the 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament, Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller joined Sirius XM’s “Big Ten This Morning” program with hosts Matt Schick and Anthony Herron where he updated the status of the missing Hawkeyes.

“We’re still in a wait-and-see situation. I really don’t know a whole lot at this point. We’re all probably coming to grips with the fact that they’re not gonna be coming back.

“It’s a situation where, you know, it’s just disappointing, but it’s something I think that is bigger than just the University of Iowa and Iowa State that came to light. I think it’s a nationwide issue that we’re unfortunately under the microscope because it happened here, and I think that’s probably a big reason why the decision hasn’t come quickly because I think everyone knows that this is way bigger than just Iowa,” Heller said.

As Heller said, it’s certainly disappointing, especially given that Iowa is in the midst of a historic season. Despite the adversity dealt its way, the Hawkeyes managed to finish the season strong and lock up the program’s third NCAA Tournament appearance under coach Heller.

Behind a dynamic pitching staff, Iowa just might have the goods to emerge from a challenging Terre Haute Regional. The Hawkeyes’ pitching staff led the Big Ten with a 4.04 ERA and ranked 11th nationally.

Brody Brecht might be the best individual talent taking part in the Terre Haute Regional in a regional that’s full of great players. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound sophomore ranks third in the Big Ten and 32nd nationally with 101 strikeouts on the season.

A native of Ankeny, Iowa, Brecht can fill it up with velocity that’s comfortably in triple figures. He’s joined by fellow starters Marcus Morgan and Ty Langenberg and a number of relievers that Iowa feels good about.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Josh on Twitter: @JoshOnREF