Tag: Keaton Anthony

Iowa Football 2023 Schedule Breakdown: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Iowa closes its season against Nebraska. What do the new-look Huskers bring to the table in the battle for the Heroes Trophy?

Finally, here it is, the Nebraska game.

It’s been a long road on the 2023 schedule breakdowns. We started this all the way back in the beginning of June before the summer season even began. Now with fall football right around the corner, there is no better way to end it than with the Cornhuskers. The Iowa-Nebraska rivalry game has traditionally been the final regular season game for both teams, set for the day after Thanksgiving.

A rivalry many saw as manufactured, starting once Nebraska made the leap to the Big Ten, Iowa-Nebraska has become one of the more meaningful games of the season for both squads. It can play a massive role in who goes to the Big Ten Championship, something we all saw last year. Needing just a win against a Nebraska program still in disarray, the Cornhuskers took the fight to the Hawkeyes and came home with the victory. The Hawkeyes would be watching the Big Ten Championship from home.

It will be a new-look Nebraska squad looking to keep the Heroes Trophy in Lioncoln this year. Here is a look at the new Cornhuskers squad.

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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.

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Collegiate Baseball tabs Keaton Anthony third-team All-American

Collegiate Baseball tabbed the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Keaton Anthony as a third-team All-American.

Collegiate Baseball revealed its All-American teams today, naming Iowa redshirt sophomore Keaton Anthony as a third-team All-American.

Anthony was a Collegiate Baseball freshman All-American a season ago. Now, his efforts in 2023 have him a notch higher in terms of national acclaim.

He was chosen on the Collegiate Baseball’s third team as a designated hitter. The Hoschton, Ga., 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 from hitters with more than 30 at bats.

Though he hasn’t played in the past 13 games, Anthony is still toward the top of Iowa’s team lead in a number of other key hitting and offensive categories.

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

Anthony joins six Big Ten players on Collegiate Baseball’s list of All-Americans. Maryland shortstop Matt Shaw was chosen to the first team. Maryland catcher Luke Shliger and third baseman Nick Lorusso were selected to the second team as was Nebraska second baseman Max Anderson. Lastly, Michigan State first baseman Brock Vradenburg and Nebraska shortstop Brice Matthews were also selected to the third team.

One of Iowa’s postseason foes was also honored by Collegiate Baseball. Indiana State right-handed pitcher Connor Fenlong was recognized as a second-team selection.

Unfortunately for Iowa fans and for this team as it embarks upon the Terre Haute Regional, Anthony hasn’t played since he walked and scored in a 7-4 midweek win over Illinois State back on May 2.

Anthony and several other Hawkeyes were withheld from action beginning on May 5 during the Ohio State series. Iowa’s athletics department released a statement that night noting that it had withheld several athletes “due to a potential NCAA violation.”

Then, on the following Monday, 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.

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Trio of Iowa Hawkeyes honored by Collegiate Baseball

Outfielder Keaton Anthony and pitcher Brody Brecht were named Collegiate Baseball freshman All-Americans.

The future is bright for Iowa baseball.

On Wednesday, University of Iowa’s Keaton Anthony and Brody Brecht were named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All Americans. They are the 10th and 11th Hawkeyes to earn the distinction and it is the third time an Iowa team has featured multiple players in a year as freshman All-Americans. It is the first time a duo has received such honors since 2017.

It is no surprise to see Keaton Anthony on the list. The Hoschton, Ga., native is the second-ever Hawkeye to earn the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. The outfielder finished with a .361 batting average and reached safely in 50 contests. His inaugural season featured 22 doubles, 14 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 46 runs scored. His 14 home runs are the most by an Iowa freshman since 1999.

Brody Brecht was a standout on the mound in his first season, finishing with a 3.18 ERA in 17 appearances. In 22 2/3 innings, the reliever held batters to a .158 batting average and struck out 44 hitters. He allowed just 13 hits and eight earned runs, surrendering just one extra-base hit.

Iowa starting pitcher Adam Mazur also picked up recognition as a second-team All-American from Collegiate Baseball last Thursday. The redshirt sophomore made it a second consecutive season that a Hawkeye pitcher earned an All-America distinction, becoming the ninth player to earn All-America honors under Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller.

The Woodbury, Minn., native posted a 7-3 record with a 3.07 ERA in 15 starts. Mazur allowed just 60 hits and 37 runs (32 earned) over 93 2/3 innings, while fanning 98, limiting hitters to a .178 average and walking just 30.

The Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-league selection led the league in batting average against, ranked second in innings and strikeouts, third in wins and fourth in ERA. In league games, the right-hander paced the Big Ten in wins (5), ERA (2.59), innings (55.2), while ranking fourth in strikeouts.

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Iowa baseball sweeps the weekly Big Ten awards, extending the single-season program record

Keaton Anthony, Kyle Huckstorf and Dylan Nedved were all honored as the Iowa Hawkeyes swept the weekly Big Ten baseball awards.

Iowa swept its way past Indiana last weekend to the tune of 30-16, 12-0, and 2-1 victories over the Hoosiers. The Hawkeyes wound up sweeping their way through the Big Ten weekly baseball awards as well.

Redshirt sophomore Kyle Huckstorf was named the co-Big Ten Player of the Week, redshirt senior Dylan Nedved the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and Keaton Anthony the Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Huckstorf had a historic day in Iowa’s unforgettable rally in game one versus Indiana. After trailing 13-2 early, Huckstorf’s big day spearheaded the Hawkeyes’ comeback efforts.

The 5-foot-8, 175 pound native of Waterford, Wis., hit three home runs over the course of a pair of innings as Iowa erased the early 11-run deficit. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hawkeyes sent 15 batters to the plate to erase that deficit in a hurry.

Huckstorf sandwiched a pair of three-run blasts around a two-run shot from Anthony. He wasn’t done there. In the fifth inning, Huckstorf added a go-ahead grand slam, giving him three homers and 10 RBIs in a two-inning span.

With the bases loaded in the eighth, Huckstorf lined a two-run single to right center for his record-breaking hit. It gave him the Big Ten single-game RBI record with 12 and it was his sixth hit, tying him for the league record for hits in a game.

“This is going to be the day that I take with me until I die. It will be stories that live on forever and I’ll have fun with it. I came out here with the same goal in mind, trying to barrel up the ball, hit it hard and as you see today, good things happen. The wind was in my favor, which was a good thing,” Huckstorf said of his record-breaking day.

In addition to his co-Big Ten Player of the Week honor, Huckstorf was named the Dick Howser Trophy National Co-Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Meanwhile, Anthony picked up Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors for a record sixth time this season. The 6-foot-4, 210 pound outfielder finished the week against the Hoosiers having homered in three straight games and finished with five runs and five RBIs on the weekend.

Lastly, Nedved captured the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week award after tossing six shutout innings in a series-clinching victory in game two. The right-hander from Shawnee, Kan., had a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings before being lifted following the sixth because of a pitch count. He allowed one hit over six innings and fanned six to notch his sixth victory of the season.

The accolades are the 11th, 12th and 13th weekly honors for the Hawkeyes this season, extending a program record.

Iowa earned the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament where the Hawkeyes will square off with sixth-seeded Penn State today at 5 p.m. from Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Neb., in their first postseason matchup. If the Hawkeyes can win, it’s the winner of No. 2 seed Rutgers and No. 7 seed Purdue.

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Keaton Anthony stamps national arrival with Big Ten Freshman of the Year award

Iowa redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony stamped his arrival nationally by blasting 14 home runs. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

It’s been quite the season already for Iowa baseball. The Hawkeyes won their final six Big Ten series and head to Omaha, Neb., as the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Baseball Tournament.

One of the key cogs in the Hawkeyes’ 33-17 overall mark, 17-7 march through Big Ten play and 25-9 finish to the regular season was redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony. Thanks in part to his stellar play, Iowa is well positioned to lock down an at-large NCAA Tournament berth with a strong showing in the Big Ten Tournament.

After a hamstring injury late in last year’s preseason limited Anthony to one game in 2021, the 6-foot-4, 210 pound redshirt freshman has taken flight in 2022. Anthony ended the regular season hitting .360 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 53 RBIs and 43 runs scored.

Ten of Anthony’s home runs came in Big Ten play and his 20 doubles are the second-most in program history. As a result, Anthony was a no-brainer decision for the league’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

The Hoschton, Ga., native became just the second Hawkeye in program history to capture the award, joining second baseman C.J. Thieleke in 1994. Anthony also earned second-team All-Big Ten and Freshman All-Big Ten honors.

The redshirt freshman hit safely in 40 games, reached safely in 45 contests and posted 21 multi-hit games. He earned a Big Ten record six Freshman of the Week honors during the regular season.

The outfielder ranked third in the Big Ten in doubles (20), fourth in slugging percentage (.694) and OPS (1.135), seventh in batting average (.360) and 10th in home runs (14) during the regular season. In league games, Anthony tied for fourth with 10 home runs, ranked fifth in slugging (.768), tied for sixth in RBIs (30) and seventh in OPS (1.193).

The Hawkeyes open Big Ten Tournament play as the No. 3 seed and will play sixth-seeded Penn State at 9 a.m. from Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Neb. Every game will be televised on the Big Ten Network, with each game also available on the FOX Sports App.

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Iowa versus Michigan State: How to watch, listen, stream Hawkeye baseball against the Spartans

Iowa heads to East Lansing, Mich., for a pivotal three-game series. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream the Hawks against the Spartans.

After securing a fourth consecutive Big Ten series win with a 9-1 rubber game victory over Purdue, Iowa (28-16, 12-6 Big Ten) hits the road for East Lansing, Mich., for a three-game series against Michigan State.

With the Hawkeyes sitting at No. 64 in the RPI and tied for third in the Big Ten standings with a 12-6 mark in league play, Iowa needs to play well in this three-game series against the Spartans in order to enhance its case for an at-large bid into an NCAA Regional.

In Iowa’s series-clinching win over the Boilermakers, sophomore Ty Langenberg registered a career-long seven innings start where he surrendered just one run and struck out seven.

“We gave a mature, professional effort today. After a tough day yesterday, we came out with a lot of energy. We were really dialed in against a good team and we needed a good start. Ty Langenberg delivered with that; he was solid today,” Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller said after capturing the series over Purdue.

After recording 12 strikeouts in the Mother’s Day win, Iowa ran its strikeout total to 507 to set a single-season program record. Redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony hit his 10th home run of the season and finished with a pair of RBIs. Sophomore Cade Moss added two RBIs as well.

Meanwhile, Michigan State (22-25, 6-12 Big Ten) was swept by Penn State. A pair of games originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday were postponed. The Spartans played a Sunday doubleheader, losing both against Penn State by scores of, 15-3, and, 10-4. Then, Michigan State dropped the Monday contest against the Nittany Lions, 10-9, in 11 innings.

The Spartans split their midweek games at Notre Dame and at Western Michigan, losing to the Fighting Irish, 15-6, before topping the Broncos, 3-1.

Here’s how to watch, listen and stream the Hawkeyes’ series against Michigan State.

Iowa rocks Purdue, 9-1, captures fourth straight Big Ten series win

Iowa used a five-run fifth inning to rock Purdue, 9-1, on Sunday. As a result, the Hawkeyes have now won four consecutive Big Ten series.

A Saturday hiccup couldn’t stop Iowa from unleashing on Purdue on Sunday. The Hawkeyes scored two runs in the first, two more in the third and then used a five-run fifth inning to race away from the Boilermakers en route to a 9-1 rubber game win.

The series win is Iowa’s fourth consecutive Big Ten series win and the Hawkeyes’ sixth series win over the past seven weekends. Iowa improved to 28-16 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten play with a pair of weeks remaining in the regular season.

Sophomore right-hander Ty Langenberg struck out seven Purdue batters over a career-long seven innings of work to pick up the Mother’s Day win from Duane Banks Field. The Urbandale, Iowa, native allowed just five hits and surrendered only the lone walk. In the process, Langenberg improved to 5-1 on the season.

It was a great day for the Iowa pitching staff in general. Redshirt junior righty Duncan Davitt came on in relief and pitched a pair of scoreless innings and struck out five of the final six Boilermaker batters. With the Hawkeye pitchers 12 strikeouts on the day, Iowa ran its season total to 507 to set a new single-season program record. The previous mark was 499 strikeouts by the 2018 squad.

Redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony got the scoring started for Iowa in the first with a two-run homer after Purdue plunked Iowa’s Peyton Williams. Then, in the third, redshirt junior Brendan Sher added a two-run double into left center to plate Anthony and redshirt senior Izaya Fullard.

The Hawkeyes officially broke things open in the fifth. Sher drew a bases-loaded walk and Williams scored on a wild pitch to give Iowa a 6-0 lead. Freshman Ben Wilmes followed with a two-run single and sophomore Cade Moss’ single to right made it 9-0 Hawkeyes.

Iowa baseball captures the series over Nebraska with a 5-3 extra-innings win

After a 1-0 win on Friday, Iowa won 5-3 in extra innings in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader to take the series from Nebraska.

After a forgettable first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, Iowa found its resolve early and then again late in the second game of the doubleheader to capture the series from the Nebraska Cornhuskers with a 5-3 extra-innings win.

With the win, Iowa has now secured three consecutive Big Ten series and four of the five conference series the Hawkeyes have played thus far.

Redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony delivered a first-inning blast to start the scoring for the Hawkeyes as Iowa’s designated hitter. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Peyton Williams added a two-run homer in the third to score himself and Kyle Huckstorf and Iowa led 3-1.

Then, after Nebraska evened the game at three runs apiece with a pair in the sixth, Iowa found the scoring it needed in extras to ensure it wouldn’t be a gloomy trip back to Iowa City.

The top of the tenth started with a pair of Hawkeye singles from sophomores Anthony Mangano and Michael Seegers. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and then the Huskers intentionally walked Williams.

Anthony followed the Williams’ walk with a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Hawkeyes the lead back at 4-3 and then redshirt senior Izaya Fullard added an insurance run with his RBI single to score Seegers.

Sophomore right-hander Ty Langenberg delivered a solid start, tossing five innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts on 78 pitches.

Redshirt senior Dylan Nedved settled down after surrendering a pair of earned runs in his first inning of work in the sixth and added four innings in relief with three strikeouts. After Nedved allowed a leadoff single to Nebraska’s Cam Chick to start off the bottom of the 10th, Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller went into the bullpen.

It worked to perfection. Redshirt senior Ben Beutel got Garrett Anglim to srike out swinging and then induced a game-ending double play off the bat of the Huskers’ Griffin Everitt.

Iowa Hawkeyes outfielder Keaton Anthony named Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Redshirt freshman outfielder Keaton Anthony picked up his fourth Big Ten weekly honor of the season.

Iowa’s redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony made history this week. The 6-foot-4, 210 pound outfielder became the first Hawkeye to earn a fourth weekly honor from the Big Ten in a single season.

Anthony was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Tuesday. The Hoschton, Ga., native also earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors on Feb. 23, March 16 and April 5.

Despite missing the final two games of last weekend’s Minnesota series due to sickness, Anthony still picked up the award after a big start to last week. Anthony went 1-for-2 with a three-run blast and scored three times in a 16-2 runaway midweek win over Milwaukee. Then, in the first game against the Golden Gophers, Anthony went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and a run scored in Iowa’s 9-3 series-opening win over Minnesota. Anthony slashed .571/1.571/.700 and had a 2.271 OPS in the two games he played.

After batting 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in last night’s 15-8 win over Bradley, Anthony now has 16 doubles and 23 extra-base hits on the season. He leads the team with 32 RBIs and is second in home runs with seven on the season behind redshirt sophomore Peyton Williams’ team-leading nine blasts. Anthony is now holds a .362 batting average on the year.

Iowa heads to Big Ten-leading Rutgers this weekend. The Scarlet Knights just missed being ranked in the latest USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll, sitting just outside the top 25 with 103 total points in the receiving votes category. Rutgers is 31-6 overall, 11-1 in Big Ten play and has won 16 consecutive games. Meanwhile, Iowa will head to New Jersey on a five-game winning streak of its own and sits at 21-12 overall and 6-3 in Big Ten play.

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