April 28, 2008
SERIES INFORMATION ? The Hawkeyes travel to Cedar Rapids, IA to take on the Northern Iowa Panthers.
HAWKEYES THIS WEEKEND ? The Iowa Hawkeyes (16-25, 6-14) will face the Northern Iowa Panthers Wednesday (25-13, 11-4) in the intrastate Corridor Classic in Cedar Rapids, IA at 6:30 p.m. The Corridor Classic started in 2004. The game features spirit squads from both teams, variety of outstanding promotions, fireworks, raffles and the “Kiss a Pig” contest. The Panthers dropped two of a three-game series against Southern Illinois last weekend at Riverfront Stadium. Northern Iowa has dropped three of their last four contests, including last week’s game against Iowa. In the all-time series between the two intrastate schools, Iowa leads 66-23-1. The Hawkeyes also defeated the Panthers, 5-2 last week in Waterloo, IA.
TICKET INFORMATION ? Corridor Classic tickets are $9 for premiere seats, $8 for club, $7 for plaza and $6 for lawn seating. The pavilion seating tickets are $25 each, a price that includes a game ticket and all-you-can-eat-and-drink privileges. Call the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 1-800-860-3609 for tickets.
HAWKEYES ON THE AIR ? Hawkeye fans can catch every Iowa game at AM-800 KXIC. The Voice of the Hawkeyes, Brent Balbinot, will call the action. The radio broadcast will also be available free online.
HAWKEYES ON THE NET ? Iowa baseball fans can follow the Hawkeyes this week, as live stats will be available on www.hawkeyesports.com. Just click on the Gametracker link found on both the front page and the baseball schedule page.
SCOUTING NORTHERN IOWA: The Panthers dropped two of a three-game series against Southern Illinois last weekend at Riverfront Stadium. Northern Iowa has dropped three of their last four contests, including last week’s game against Iowa. The losses drop UNI to 25-13 overall and 11-4 in Missouri Valley Conference play. At a neutral site this Panther squad is 6-3. Brandon Douglas has led the Panthers, offensively, hitting a solid .399, a slugging percentage of .655, 20 doubles and an astounding 50 RBI. Derick Manrique leads the Panthers on the base paths with 13 stolen bases. In the all-time series between the two intrastate schools, Iowa leads 66-23-1.
CORRIDOR CLASSIC: The Corridor Classic started in 2004. The game features spirit squads from both teams, variety of outstanding promotions, fireworks, raffles and the “Kiss a Pig” contest The Hawkeyes won the fourth Corridor classic in thrilling fashion, 5-4. Iowa scored the game-winning run in the top of the ninth. Last year’s contest helped raise over $135,000 for the ADA.
DAHM CAPTURES MILESTONE: Head Coach Jack Dahm captured his 400th career victory the last time the two team’s faced off. Dahm recorded 283 victories at Creighton and has won 118 at Iowa. Dahm started in 1994 with his alma mater, Creighton University, and moved on to coach the Hawkeyes in 2003.
BRANDS TO THROW OUT FIRST PITCH AT CORRIDOR CLASSIC: Iowa Head Wrestling Coach Tom Brands will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the fifth annual Corridor Classic presented by Cedar Rapids Toyota-Scion Wednesday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids. The Corridor Classic pits the Iowa Hawkeyes against the Northern Iowa Panthers in baseball. Brands, who was named the National and Big Ten Coach of the Year, led the Hawkeyes to their 21st national championship last month. In addition, the Big Ten and NCAA Championship trophies will be on display on the concourse at the event.
DIAMOND THIEVES: This season Iowa has out-run its opponents, going 96-for-125. Leading Iowa in steals is Caleb Curry (29), followed by Justin Toole (17) and Kyle Riffel with 14. Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in thefts per game. Last weekend, Iowa out-ran the Spartans 13 thefts to five.
BY THE NUMBERS IN THE BIG TEN: Caleb Curry has taken the Big Ten by storm, when compared with the league’s players he ranks in the top ten in: batting average (.395), slugging percentage (.558), runs batted in (47), hit-by-pitches (8), sac flies (5) and stolen bases (29). Other Hawkeyes who rank well in the conference include: Justin Toole is in the top ten in hits (63), doubles (14), and runs scored (44). Kevin Hoef leads the league in hit-by-pitches (16), is sixth in runs scored (40) and is fifth in triples (3). Kyle Riffel leads the league in sac bunts (9), and Kurtis Muller is sixth in the league in sac bunts (6) and third in sac flies (6). Andrew Porter is first in appearances (25) and sixth in saves (4) and Kyle Heim is tied for third (22) in appearances.
SPARTANS TAKE SERIES: The Iowa baseball team fell to Michigan State in three of the four-games last weekend in Lansing, MI. The Hawkeyes took game one, 16-2. The Hawkeye offense amassed a season-high 20 hits, Iowa committed no errors and the pitching staff only allowed two runs on eight hits. As a team the Hawkeyes hit .338 with 12 extra base hits, including, 10 doubles one triple and a homer. The Black and Gold hit an astounding .449 team slugging percentage. Brock Alberts got the lone Iowa win, having pitched eight innings and only allowing one run. On the weekend, Justin Toole continued his hitting streak to 15-games. He was 7-for-19 (.368 with two doubles, six runs scored and three RBI on the weekend. Wes Freie went 6-for-17 (.353) with six RBI. Matt Mossey swung the bat well in the three games he played. He went 4-for-7 scoring four runs with two doubles and six RBI. Caleb Curry led the Hawkeyes on the base path going a perfect 4-for-4.
ERRORLESS BALL: The Hawkeyes only committed one error last weekend in Lansing, MI. The Hawkeyes have had eight errorless games prior to their weekend at Oldsmobile Park, now the grand total is at nine.
IOWA OFFENSE IS STREAKING: Justin Toole has currently tied a team-high streak of 15-games. Which was also reached by Caleb Curry a week ago. Wes Freie has been swinging the bat well, having gone the last eight games with a hit. Curry leads the team in multi-RBI games with 13, followed by Kurtis Muller and Toole (10). Toole also leads the team with 20 multi-hit games to lead Iowa, while Curry has 19 multi-hit games this year.
SUCCESSFUL WITH RUNNERS: Several Hawkeyes have taken advantage of base runners this season. Caleb Curry is hitting .489 (43-88) with runners on to lead the Black and Gold. Justin Toole is hitting .792 (19-24) when runners are on third and less than two outs, while Kurtis Muller is 50-for-85 (.588) in advancing runners. Kevin Hoef is hitting .500 (5-10) with the bases loaded.
WEARING PITCHES: Iowa has no problem taking one for the team. The Hawkeyes have 63 hit-by-pitches on the year which is more than any other team in the Big Ten and enough to rank them 43rd in the country in the category. To lead the Black and Gold is Kevin Hoef with 16, followed by Kurtis Muller (10).
McMANIS TAKES ON CATCHER: Because Tyson Blaser and Ben Geelan are not 100 percent with injuries — utility infielder Kody McManis has started a major of the games behind the dish. McManis has improved behind the plate and also from the batter’s box, as well. On the season, McManis is hitting .316 with two double and 10 RBI. Coming into the season, McManis had a career .186 batting average. Geelan returned to action against Northwestern after missing three and a half weeks with an ankle injury. The senior played in two games last week, going 2-for-5 with a run and RBI in his return.
HAWKEYES GO YARD: The Hawkeyes added another home run to their Big Ten total vs. Michigan State last weekend. The Hawkeye total has now swelled to 15. Against Northwestern, Kevin Hoef hit his third career homer, Caleb Curry hit a shot for his second one this week and Wes Freie hit a bomb to give him his third this season. Twelve of Iowa’s 15 homers this season have been in Big Ten play (five at Indiana, three vs. Purdue and Northwestern and one at Michigan State).
UTILIZING THE SAC BUNT: The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in sacrifice bunts this season in the conference (37). Leading the Black and Gold is Kyle Riffel with nine, followed by Kurtis Muller with six, and Justin Toole and Justin Brauer with four.
ON DECK FOR THE HAWKEYES:
MINNESOTA – MAY 1-3
Duane Banks Field – Iowa City, IA
The Hawkeyes will host the Golden Gophers this weekend at Duane Banks Stadium, in a four-game series. The two teams are part of a three way tie for eighth place in the conference, so a series win could take Iowa out of the basement of the Big Ten. As a team, the Gophers are hitting .295 and are led by Matt Nohelty, offensively, with a .393 average and 19 stolen bases. The all-time series between the two schools is led by the Gophers, 163-103.
