Iowa rode big third and seventh innings to keep its recent winning ways intact and blast past Bradley, 15-8. In the process, Iowa won its season-best fifth consecutive game to improve to 21-12 overall and complete a season sweep of the Braves.
Redshirt sophomore Peyton Williams stole the show as he hit for the cycle. The first baseman finished the game a perfect 5-for-5 from the plate with five RBIs and four runs scored and he reached base in all six of his plate appearances. Williams doubled in the first, singled in the third, homered in the fourth, was hit by a pitch in the sixth, doubled in the seventh and tripled down the right field line in the eighth.
B4 | Just WOW!@peyton_w2 blasts a 410-foot home run — his 9th — that was 112 mph off the bat. 💪💪💪💪💪💪#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/XYUa0T8lll
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 19, 2022
The Hawkeyes scored one run in the first, four in the third, one in the fourth, one in the fifth, one in the sixth, six in the seventh and a final run in the eighth inning. Sophomore designated hitter Will Mulflur delivered a 3-for-5 day from the plate with a double and a three-run blast in the third that put the Hawks in front to stay.
B3 | MUL-FLUR!@willmulflur with his 2nd jack of the season! It's 5-3 #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/OF0OpyyGEB
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 19, 2022
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Luke Llewellyn got the start for Iowa but he lasted just one inning as he walked three and surrendered a pair of earned runs. From there, the Hawkeyes used a series of arms to close out the win.
Redshirt sophomore Jacob Henderson, redshirt junior Jared Simpson and freshman Chas Wheatley each pitched one inning. Redshirt senior Cam Baumann pitched 2/3 innings, redshirt sophomore Will Christophersen pitched two innings, redshirt senior Ben Beutel pitched 1/3 innings, freshman Marcus Morgan faced three batters but didn’t record an out and then freshman Brody Brecht came in to close the win with two innings of scoreless baseball.
Wheatley earned the win for the Hawkeyes. Now, Iowa can turn its attention to a big weekend series versus Big Ten-leading Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights just missed the top 25 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Baseball Coaches Poll. Rutgers is the first team ranked outside the top 25 in the latest edition. Iowa can do its postseason chances a great service by heading to New Jersey and winning the series.
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