Three Iowa Hawkeyes stamped preseason All-Conference players by Perfect Game

With first pitch inching closer, take a look at the three Iowa Hawkeyes named to the preseason Big Ten All-Conference team by Perfect Game.

Coming off of an impressive 44-16 season in 2023, the Iowa Hawkeyes are looking to run things back again in 2024 and make another postseason appearance and potentially a postseason run.

Three individuals will be key to leading the Hawkeyes to another successful year. Perfect Game took a look at the Big Ten Conference preview and has named three Hawkeyes to their preseason All-Conference team.

The three named are outfielder Sam Petersen, starting pitcher Brody Brecht, and relief pitcher Marcus Morgan. Brecht was also named the preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game.

Sam Petersen is one of four outfielders named to the team after an All-Big Ten First Team performance in 2023. Iowa will need Petersen’s blend of power and speed on offense.

All-Big Ten 1st Team in ’23. Slashed .319/.449/.584 with 11 home runs (2nd on team) and 47 RBI. Led team in SB with 20. – Tyler Kotila, Perfect Game

Brody Brecht has all the hype in the world around him and he also has the arm talent to match. The flamethrower stepped on the scene in dominant fashion last year and will look to expand on that in 2024.

All-Big Ten 1st Team in ’23. 16 starts, 77.0 IP, 3.74 ERA, 109 strikeouts. Triple-digits FB. POTY favorite in ’24. – Kotila, Perfect Game

Rounding out the preseason team for the Hawkeyes is Marcus Morgan. The reliever has the fastball and strikeout ability. If he can continue his performance, Iowa could find themselves a reliable bullpen arm.

All-Big Ten 2nd Team in ’23. 15 starts, 65.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 72 strikeouts. Up to 99 mph this fall, potential for breakout in ’24. – Kotila, Perfect Game

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Iowa Hawkeyes baseball rallies to sweep Minnesota, improves to 20-12

Iowa’s offense exploded for an eight-run seventh inning to rally back and top Minnesota, 9-3, on Sunday to earn the series sweep.

Through six innings, it looked and felt like Iowa’s offense might not be able to put it together to earn the series sweep of Minnesota from Duane Banks Field. Following a 9-3 win on Friday and a 2-1 triumph on Saturday, the Hawkeyes had mustered up just three hits over the game’s first six innings on Sunday and trailed 3-0.

Then, the dam burst loose in the seventh. After one-out singles from sophomore Kyle Huckstorf and freshman Ben Wilmes, sophomore Michael Seegers drove in the game’s first run for the Hawks with an RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Redshirt sophomore Peyton Williams delivered an RBI groundout to score Wilmes and bring the Hawkeyes back within a run. Redshirt senior Izaya Fullard worked a two-out walk and then redshirt sophomore Ben Tallman tied the game up with an RBI single.

Suddenly, after seemingly being stuck in the mud offensively all afternoon long, Iowa had a chance to take the lead and sweep the series. Sophomore Will Mulflur gave Iowa its first lead of the day with a two-run double down the third base line, putting the Hawkeyes in front, 5-3.

“I was trying to go up there and keep fighting. I found myself in a lot of two strike counts this season. I wanted to see it deep with two strikes and get a good swing on it. I got it past the third baseman,” Mulflur said.

Iowa didn’t stop there in the seventh. Freshman Sam Petersen added an RBI single and Wilmes’ two-run single gave the Hawkeyes a five-run lead at 8-3. All told, it was an eight-run seventh inning on seven hits. Iowa added an insurance run in the eighth after Williams doubled and then scored on a wild pitch.

After Minnesota scratched three runs off sophomore right-hander Ty Langenburg over the game’s first three innings, Iowa turned to redshirt sophomore lefty Benjamin DeTaeye. DeTaeye responded with a pair of spotless innings of relief.

Redshirt senior righty Dylan Nedved took Iowa the rest of the way in relief, delivering four innings of one-hit, scoreless baseball for the Hawkeyes.

“It feels good to give your team a chance. It was big to get those shut down innings so it could give our team a chance to come back and win. We were able to get it done, so it was nice,” Nedved said.

Iowa wound up winning on Sunday by the same score as Friday, 9-3. In the process, the Hawkeyes earned their first Big Ten series sweep since winning all three games at Michigan State in last year’s regular season finale.

“Getting a sweep is big, especially at home. It is good momentum for everyone on the team, especially going into a tough one on the road next week. We have to take care business during the midweek, too, against Bradley.

“It was a good confidence booster with everybody. The pitchers coming out and throwing strikes, always giving us a chance, the offense coming through. It felt like we were able to be who we are this weekend and it worked out,” Mulflur said.

Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller said the comeback illustrated what this team wants to be about.

“To get a win today, especially coming back late like that, it was good for the confidence and psyche of the team. To do it with a bunch of guys out of the lineup, it says a lot about our culture and the toughness of the group we have. It was a lot of guys stepping up and getting the job done. It was a good team win today,” Heller said.

Iowa hosts Bradley on Tuesday night at 6:05 p.m. CT from Duane Banks Field before a three-game weekend series at Rutgers.

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