Tag: Iowa baseball

A final look at the Iowa Hawkeyes’ 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament projections

What do the final NCAA Baseball Tournament projections look like for the Iowa Hawkeyes?

The NCAA Baseball Tournament’s Selection Show is here! The Selection Show will take place on ESPN2 beginning at 11 a.m. CT today where we will officially find out the fate of the Iowa Hawkeyes.

The Hawkeyes seemed to be on comfortable footing heading into the 2023 Big Ten Baseball Tournament. If there was any reason for uneasiness prior to the Big Ten Tournament, Iowa made sure to alleviate any worries with a sprint to the championship game.

Though Maryland blanked Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game, the Hawkeyes’ sprint to the title game showed they are more than ready for postseason play.

It’s just a matter of where Iowa is heading now for its sixth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. Ahead of the official announcement later on this morning, here’s a look at the final projections for Iowa nationally.

Unveiling the Road to Omaha: How, where to tune into the college baseball Selection Show

It’s time to figure out the Iowa Hawkeyes’ fate! Here’s where college baseball fans can tune in to watch the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

The Road to Omaha officially begins this week. Thirty automatic qualifiers have already punched their tickets, and the NCAA selection committee revealed its 16 Regional hosts last night.

There’s just one final bit of information to unveil before we can get this month-long celebration started: What does the full NCAA Tournament bracket look like?

We’ll get that answer later on today. Here’s when and where fans can tune in to find out where the Iowa Hawkeyes and everyone in the field of 64 will be headed.

Rick Heller confident in possibility of Iowa baseball’s Omaha return

After its stinging loss to Maryland in the Big Ten title game, Rick Heller said he thinks his team has the goods to get back to Omaha.

After its stinging 4-0 loss to the Maryland Terrapins in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament’s championship game, Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller pointed out some of the positives to On3’s Kyle Huesmann of Hawkeye Report.

“The good thing about this is that it’s not a goodbye this year and that’s the hard part when you lose a game like this if you’re not going. Then, it’s goodbye to a lot of the guys who won’t be coming back and it’s a really sad emotional trip home. It’s not going to be a very fun bus ride home, but when the sun comes up tomorrow it’s going to be gone and we’ll meet and gather and start preparing as soon as we know where we’re going.

“It’ll be a happy day and a reward for an incredible season for a bunch of guys who brought it every single day from day one and have overcome so much here in the last 12-14 games. I believe that this team can be back here (in Omaha) in a couple of weeks if we play like we’re capable of,” Heller said.

Iowa (42-14, 15-8 Big Ten) has already had a historic season. The Hawkeyes’ 42 wins trails only the 1981 team’s 44 wins for the most in school history. This group also joined the 1977, 1981, 1985 and 2015 squads as Iowa baseball teams that eclipsed the 40-win mark.

The Hawkeyes are a lock for an at-large bid into the 2023 NCAA Tournament and the world will find out the Hawks’ fate tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2. Fans can also stream the bracket reveal on WatchESPN.

The sixteen regional hosts were announced this evening: Auburn, LSU, Virginia, Clemson, South Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Miami, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Oklahoma State, Indiana State, Alabama, and Wake Forest.

While the championship game against Maryland didn’t go the Hawkeyes’ way, fans still took to social media to celebrate a brilliant Big Ten Tournament run one final time. Here’s some of the sensational still photos from the 2023 Big Ten Championship game that was.

Social media salutes Hawkeyes’ Big Ten Tournament run, react to championship game loss

A terrific run through the Big Ten Tournament ended with a championship game loss versus Maryland. Hawkeye fans saluted Iowa’s tourney run.

The Iowa Hawkeyes had their chances early, but, ultimately, it was just the Maryland Terrapins’ day.

Maryland used a pair of fifth-inning homers to open up the scoring and eventually top the Hawkeyes, 4-0, in the 2023 Big Ten Baseball Tournament’s championship game.

Maryland’s Kevin Keister lifted a 2-1 pitch from Iowa’s Jack Whitlock past the left field fence for a two-run shot to get the scoring started in the fifth. Several batters later, Nick Lorusso also sent a home run out to left to make it 3-0 Terps.

Jacob Orr added an RBI single to left center in the sixth to plate Eddie Hacopian for the game’s final run.

Though Whitlock surrendered those two homers in the fifth, it looked earlier like he was set to be the hero for Iowa again. Called upon with the bases loaded in the third, Whitlock slammed the door shut to keep the game scoreless at that point when he sat down Ian Petrutz swinging on just three pitches.

Alas, Iowa just never totally found the offense in this one. It looked like the Hawks were about to get off to a great start, too.

Iowa started with a Sam Petersen walk and a Brennen Dorighi single in the first with just one away. Maryland’s Ryan Van Buren left those two stranded for the Hawks after Raider Tello lined out to right and Sam Hojnar grounded out to second.

The Hawkeyes got two more runners aboard in the second off one-out singles from Kyle Huckstorf and Brayden Frazier, but that threat was once again averted after Van Buren got Cade Moss and Ben Wilmes to fly out.

In the third, Tello doubled with two outs off new Maryland pitcher Andrew Johnson, but then Hojnar struck out looking to end the inning.

Iowa’s best threat then came in the fourth. Michael Seegers and Huckstorf both walked to start the inning. Another scoring chance went by the wayside after Frazier grounded into a double play and then Moss grounded out to second.

Iowa didn’t have another base runner until Frazier’s seventh-inning walk. Moss grounded into a double play where the Terps stepped on first base and then threw down to second base in time to tag out Frazier and end another Hawkeye chance.

Tello led off the ninth with a single, but a Hojnar strikeout and Seegers hitting into one final double play ended it.

Naturally, Hawkeye fans were disappointed that a second all-time Big Ten Tournament title instead went to Maryland. Here were the best live reactions and a tip of the cap to a great Iowa tourney run.

Plus, believe it or not, a couple of Hawkeye highlights as well.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Iowa Hawkeyes baseball vs. Maryland Terrapins: TV, stream, broadcast details for Sunday

Iowa takes on Maryland in the 2023 Big Ten Baseball Tournament championship game. Here’s how to watch. Plus, championship game notes.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (42-13, 15-8 Big Ten) are one win away from capturing the program’s second all-time Big Ten Baseball Tournament crown.

To do so, Iowa will have to topple No. 1 seed Maryland. The Terrapins (40-19, 17-7 Big Ten) arrive in the championship game after an opening win over Michigan State and then back-to-back triumphs over Nebraska.

The Terps took care of Sparty, 3-2. Then, Maryland walked off the Huskers 2-1 in extra innings courtesy of a homer from Nick Lorusso to head into the Big Ten’s semifinals. As fate would have it, they met Nebraska once more.

Behind a fantastic start from Jason Savacool, the top-seeded Terps barreled into the title game. Savacool threw six shutout innings and a three-run second inning propelled Maryland to an eventual 4-2 win.

Meanwhile, Iowa opened with a 13-3 run-rule victory over Michigan. Jack Whitlock’s relief heroics, a Brayden Frazier grand slam, and a three-run Sam Petersen blast keyed the Hawks’ opening win.

Iowa moved within one win of the title game after staging an epic rally against Indiana, winning 9-4 when it was all said and done. The Hawkeyes came alive to erase a three-run deficit with four runs in the seventh and four more in the ninth inning to send the Hoosiers to the losers’ bracket.

The final piece to the championship round was a Ty Langenberg gem in the second tournament game for the Hawkeyes against Michigan. The righty tossed seven shutout innings en route to Iowa’s 5-0 blanking of the Wolverines.

Now, the stage is set for Iowa to join the 2017 squad as the second Hawkeye baseball outfit to win the Big Ten Tournament championship. It’s a massive day for Iowa baseball. Here’s how and where fans can dial into all of the action.

Plus, several key game notes for both.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

B1G title game bound! Best photos of the Iowa Hawkeyes’ win over Michigan

Iowa baseball put on a show! For the first time since 2017, the Hawkeyes are off to the Big Ten Championship game. Here’s the best photos.

For the first time in six years, the Iowa Hawkeyes are headed to the Big Ten Baseball Tournament’s championship game.

Iowa dispatched of Michigan again, shutting out the Wolverines 5-0 in the 2023 Big Ten Baseball Tournament’s semifinals. Hawkeye starter Ty Langenberg tossed a gem, striking out nine across seven spotless innings of work.

“Ty did exactly what you expect a veteran with a lot of confidence to do. He went out there and attacked the strike zone. I feel like since the weather has warmed up, he has been really sharp. When he’s hitting with all four of his pitches, he can beat anyone in the country. He pitched a gem today and his quiet confidence is the Ty Langenberg we like to see. He did everything he needed to do to put us in a good position going into tomorrow,” Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller said afterwards.

The Hawkeyes got started with a bases-loaded, hit by pitch RBI for Raider Tello in the third. Iowa added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Kyle Huckstorf tripled to bring home Michael Seegers. Then, Iowa busted things open in the bottom of the seventh with RBI singles from Brennen Dorighi and Tello and a sacrifice fly from Sam Hojnar.

It has the Hawkeyes back in the Big Ten Tournament’s championship game for the fifth time in program history and for the third time under Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller.

“We have won games in every way imaginable this year. That’s a tribute to the balance that we have with this team this year. With the pitching, the hitting, and then the big one that we haven’t talked a lot about in this tournament is our defense.

“Our defense is elite level and the incredible play that Seegers made up the middle in the seventh was a game changing play. That game changes a lot if that ball gets through but it gave us energy and confidence to be able to close it out,” Heller said.

It was a great day from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. The Hawkeyes will face top-seeded Maryland in the Big Ten Championship game tomorrow at 2 p.m.

In the meantime, here’s a look back at some fantastic still images of the Hawks’ massive win over Michigan.

Oh my, Ty! Social media reacts as Langenberg gem propels Iowa into Big Ten Tournament title tilt

The Iowa Hawkeyes are off to the Big Ten Championship game! Social media rejoiced as Hawkeye baseball blanked Michigan 5-0 to advance.

Junior right-hander Ty Langenberg had his best stuff in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament semifinals, tossing seven spotless innings to help pave the way for the Hawkeyes to advance past Michigan, 5-0.

The 6-foot-2, 190 pound righty from Urbandale, Iowa, struck out five of the first eight batters he faced. Langenberg struck out nine and threw 107 pitches over his seven innings of work. In the process, he grabbed his sixth win of the season.

Offensively, the Hawkeyes’ scoring got started in the third inning with a bases-loaded RBI hit by pitch from Raider Tello off Michigan righty Eamon Horwedel.

Iowa didn’t score again until some two-out magic in the sixth. Michael Seegers singled to left and advanced to second on a pickoff attempt gone awry from the Wolverines. Kyle Huckstorf tripled to center field to plate Seegers and to give Iowa a 2-0 lead.

The Hawkeyes officially broke things open in the bottom of the seventh. Brennen Dorighi and Tello delivered RBI singles before Sam Hojnar added a sacrifice fly to plate Dorighi.

Right-handers Will Christophersen and Luke Llewellyn combined to record the final six outs for the Hawks. After a leadoff double in the eighth, Chirstophersen struck out Jimmy Obertop and then got Cody Jefferis and Tito Flores to fly out.

Llewellyn actually relieved Chas Wheatley after Wheatley started the ninth with a hit by pitch to Michigan’s Ted Burton and a walk to Jordon Rogers. Llewellyn ensured there would be no serious drama as he struck out the side from there to send the Hawkeyes back into the Big Ten Tournament’s championship game for the first time since they won the event for the first time in program history back in 2017.

With the Hawks on the cusp of a league crown, Iowa fans took to social media to react in real time and then to celebrate a great day for Hawkeye baseball.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Iowa Hawkeyes baseball vs. Michigan Wolverines: TV, stream, broadcast details for Saturday

Here’s where fans can tune in to see Iowa-Michigan and the Hawks’ attempt to advance to the Big Ten Baseball Tournament’s championship game.

Cue up Round Two. And let’s hope there’s no Round Three.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (41-13, 15-8 Big Ten) can advance to the championship game of the 2023 Big Ten Baseball Tournament with another win over the Michigan Wolverines (28-27, 13-11 Big Ten) beginning at 9 a.m. CT.

If another game is necessary, it would be played at 5 p.m. CT to determine who would advance to the Big Ten Tournament championship game from the Hawkeyes and Wolverines’ portion of the bracket

Iowa opened its tournament stay from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb., with a 13-3 run-rule victory over Michigan. The Hawkeyes’ Brayden Frazier and Sam Petersen provided the offensive highlights in that contest.

Frazier knocked Iowa’s ninth grand slam of the season and the first of his career past the left field fence. It was the first grand slam in Big Ten Tournament history from Charles Schwab Field and the first in tourney play dating back to 2017.

Jack Whitlock picked up the win for Iowa, tossing two innings of one-run relief to pick up his seventh win of the season. He entered a high-pressure situation and delivered, too. Whitlock managed to work out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out the side in the fifth to set up Frazier and Petersen’s heroics.

Then, against Indiana, Iowa rallied back late. The Hawkeyes scored four runs in the seventh to erase a three-run deficit and then four more in the ninth. It added up to a 9-4 win over the Hoosiers and a chance to get back into the Big Ten Tournament final for the fifth time in program history.

Meanwhile, after dropping its opener versus Iowa, Michigan has rallied back in the bracket. The Wolverines used a five-run third inning to propel themselves past Illinois 6-3 in their first elimination game. Then, Michigan dispatched of Indiana, 13-6.

The Wolverines plated three runs in the third, three more in the fourth, three in the sixth and three in the eighth to go along with a lone run in the fifth to pace the runaway win.

It sets up a compelling rematch this morning. Here’s where Hawkeye fans can tune into the game. Plus, plenty of game notes to get you primed for a Hawkeye baseball morning versus the Wolverines.

Social media reacts as Iowa erupts past Indiana late, advances into Big Ten Baseball Tournament semis

Iowa is off to the Big Ten Baseball Tournament semifinals! Twitter reacted as the Hawkeyes’ offense erupted late to rally and march on.

After a riveting, late-game rally past Indiana, the Iowa Hawkeyes are officially just one win away from playing for the Big Ten Baseball Tournament championship.

Iowa erased a three-run deficit, plating four runs in the seventh and four more runs in the ninth inning to secure a 9-4 win over Indiana and a spot in the Big Ten Baseball Tournament semifinals.

Iowa did its heavy lifting once it got into the Indiana bullpen and after it got Hoosier starting pitcher Luke Sinnard out of the game. Trailing 4-1, Brennen Dorighi got the rally started in the seventh when he drew a one-out walk versus Indiana relief arm Craig Yoho. Raider Tello followed with a single on a 1-2 count and suddenly Iowa had some life.

Sam Hojnar delivered an RBI single to right to plate Dorighi and bring Iowa back within 4-2. Sensing the momentum shift, Indiana went back to the bullpen and called upon Connor Foley to try to stem the tide.

It didn’t work.

Hojnar stole second, putting the tying runners in scoring position. Michael Seegers worked a full count walk to load the bases and that set up Kyle Huckstorf to play the role of hero.

The Waterford, Wis., native laced a double to left field to clear the bases and put the Hawkeyes back in front to stay at 5-4. Iowa went ahead and tacked on four more insurance runs in the ninth for good measure, highlighted by Sam Petersen’s three-run blast.

While it probably wasn’t how Rick Heller or the Hawkeyes would have drawn it up when the day started, that only makes the rally sweeter. It also perfectly showcased that Iowa is ready for whatever postseason play throws its way.

After rolling past Michigan in its tournament opener, Iowa turned to flame-throwing righty Brody Brecht to help hopefully guide the Hawkeyes into the tournament’s catbird seat. It didn’t start how Brecht would have anticipated.

After surrendering three earned runs in the game’s first two innings, Brecht managed to settle down and did navigate his way through 4 2/3 innings of work on 94 pitches with five strikeouts. He exited in the fifth with runners on the corners, though.

Maybe folks didn’t know it at the time, but Hawkeye reliever Jared Simpson offered a glimpse of what was to come. He induced an inning-ending groundout to strand a pair and the Iowa bullpen was off and running.

Collectively, Iowa relievers tossed 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Though Indiana did push one final run across that was charged to Simpson in the sixth, Will Cristophersen responded with a strikeout of the Hoosiers’ Whalen. Christophersen struck out six of the eight batters he faced, including each of the final five.

Needless to say, a win of this proportion had Hawkeye Nation riled up. Iowa is one win away from playing for the Big Ten Tournament title and the league’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Here were the best reactions to the heart rate-increasing win that was.

[affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]

Iowa Hawkeyes baseball vs. Indiana Hoosiers: TV, stream, broadcast details for Thursday

Iowa plays Indiana today where the Hawkeyes can move one win away from the Big Ten Tournament championship game. Here’s how to watch.

The Iowa Hawkeyes dismantled the Michigan Wolverines in their 2023 Big Ten Baseball Tournament opener, 13-3.

The Hawkeyes’ Jack Whitlock heroically struck out the side before Brayden Frazier delivered a two-out grand slam in the fifth inning to key the win over Michigan. Sam Petersen also added a three-run blast in the seventh.

Now, after delighting Hawkeye Nation with the opening tourney win, it’s time to shift attention to the Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana topped Illinois, 4-3, in its opening game. That represented the ninth one-run win for the Hoosiers this season.

Indiana plated two runs in the fifth and two more in the eighth on RBIs from Peter Serruto, Devin Taylor, Josh Pyne and Hunter Jessee.

This will be the fourth meeting this season between Iowa and Indiana. The two teams played a three-game series back on April 7-9.

Iowa took game one, winning 7-1 behind a fantastic start from sophomore righty Brody Brecht. The 6-foot-4, 205 pound right-hander tossed seven innings of one-run ball. Meanwhile, Iowa got two-RBI performances from Kyle Huckstorf, Raider Tello and Frazier in that win over the Hoosiers.

Indiana won the next two games to take the series, though. The Hoosiers topped Iowa in extra innings in the series’ second game, walking off the Hawkeyes with a two-run homer from Morgan Colopy in the bottom of the 10th.

Then, in the rubber match, Iowa jumped out to a pair of leads but couldn’t hang on. The Hawkeyes leapt in front in the first with an RBI groundout from Sam Hojnar to put Iowa in front 1-0. After Indiana had tied it at one run apiece, Iowa went back in front with an unearned run in the eighth.

Indiana had one final response, though. The Hoosiers plated three in the bottom of the eighth off an RBI single from Peter Serruto and a two-RBI single from Bobby Whalen en route to a 4-2 series clincher over Iowa.

Now, the two teams meet again from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. Iowa entered the Big Ten Baseball Tournament with a variety of postseason projections across the country.

The Hawkeyes’ opening win over Michigan should have them in a good spot to have locked up an at-large bid, but why leave it up to chance? Plus, with a win, Iowa is one win away from reaching the Big Ten Tournament’s championship game.

Here’s where fans can watch and listen to today’s game. Plus, some notes on each.