April 13, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK’S INFORMATION: Iowa at Nebraska Iowa at Northwestern
HAWKEYES THIS MIDWEEK: The Iowa Hawkeyes will travel to Hawks Field in Lincoln, NE, to take on the Nebraska Huskers. Both teams look to stop the bleeding, Nebraska is currently riding a nine-game losing streak and the Hawkeyes a seven-game streak.
HAWKEYES THIS WEEKEND: The Black and Gold will continue its five-game road trip to Evanston, IL, Friday-Sunday for a three-game series at Northwestern. Both teams look to distance themselves from the basement of the Big Ten — both currently being the ninth and 10th place teams in the conference.
HAWKEYES ON THE NET: Iowa baseball fans can follow the Hawkeyes, as live stats will be available on hawkeyesports.com. Just click on the Gametracker link found on both the front page and the baseball schedule page.
HAWKEYES ON THE AIR: Hawkeye fans can catch most Hawkeye games on AM-800 KXIC. The Voice of the Hawkeyes, Brent Balbinot, will call the play-by-play. KXIC will broadcast Tuesday and Sunday’s game this week, while Friday and Saturday’s will be an internet only broadcast.
HAWKEYES ON THE TUBE: Iowa’s Friday game at Northwestern will be televised live on the Big Ten Network (HD). Friday’s contest will be the Hawkeyes’ third game televised on the network this season, they are scheduled for five.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK: 1. Junior Ryan Durant is streakin’ with a eight-game hitting streak. Look for him to continue it. He leads the team with a .333 batting average.
2. After a stellar series against Kansas and a solid start at DH last weekend, look for Nick Brown to contribute, offensively, this week, whether it be at DH or pinch hitting.
3. Look for Kevin Hoef to continue tearing up the Big Ten. The senior third basemen is hitting a solid .357 in conference play and has steadily been improving his overall batting average to .289 after a slow start to the season.
PROBABLE PITCHERS:
TUESDAY, 6 P.M.
IA – Michael Jacobs (LHP, JR, 6-1, 195)
NE – Michael Mariot (RHP)
NOTING: Jacobs has forced six opponents to hit into double plays this year, which leads the team.
FRIDAY, 3 P.M.
IA – Nick Brown (RHP, FR, 6-4, 208)
NW – TBA
NOTING: Brown has a 5.12 ERA with a 2-2 record in six starts. He has recorded 20 strikeouts.
SATURDAY, 1 P.M.
IA – Jarred Hippen (LHP, FR, 6-3, 190)
NW – TBA
NOTING: In 10 appearances, Hippen leads the team in strikeouts with 31.
SUNDAY, 1 P.M.
IA – Phil Schreiber (RHP, FR, 6-0, 190)
NW – TBA
NOTING: Schreiber has the lowest ERA of a starter with a 3.65. In four starts, he has a 1-1 record.
SCOUTING NEBRASKA: Nebraska is 16-18-1, and is currently on a nine-game losing skid after being swept by Texas at home last weekend. The game against Iowa will be the last of their eight-game homestand before traveling to Texas AM this weekend. The Huskers are led by junior Adam Bailey. Bailey is hitting a solid .315 and leads the team in home runs (8), RBI (36) and slugging percentage (.606). Tyler Farst and Jeff Tezak are also major offensive contributors. The Husker pitching staff has a 6.52 ERA. The staff has eight pitchers with 20 or more strikeouts. The staff is led by Mike Nesseth with a 3.12 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 39 innings. Iowa trails the all-time series between the schools, 10-8.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN: Northwestern is 7-23 overall and 1-7 in the Big Ten. Last weekend, the Wildcats were swept by No. 30 Minnesota at the Metrodome. Northwestern is hitting .256 and is led byJake Goebbert– who leads the team in doubles (10), home runs (4), RBI (23), walks (18), on base percentage (.403) and slugging percentage (.486). Chris Lashmet is tearing up the Big Ten offensively, he has a .433 average in conference play with six RBI, five doubles and a .700 slugging percentage. The Wildcat pitching staff has a 6.06 ERA and is led by starter Eric Jokisch, with a 3.64 ERA and 2-4 record in eight starts. He has thrown the most innings of any pitcher (59.1) and also leads the team in strikeouts (38). Iowa leads the series between the two schools, 127-95-2.
DURANT’S STREAKIN’: Ryan Durant is currently riding an eight-game hitting streak and leads the team with a .333 batting average.
BURKE BRINGS HIST BAT: With the untimely injury to Tyson Blaser, freshman Dallas Burke has been called into action. Despite his inexperience the catcher has done well, offensively, for the Hawkeyes. Burke is hitting .500 in the Big Ten with a .667 on base percentage.
INDIANA SUMMARY: The Hawkeyes dropped a three-game series to Indiana at Duane Banks Field last weekend. Iowa lost game three to Indiana, 8-4, Sunday. Indiana pitcher Matt Bashore kept the Hawkeye offense off balance, striking out 10 and allowing only two walks. Bashore went eight and one-third innings, allowing only two earned runs in the win. The Hawkeyes dropped game two to Indiana, 5-1, Saturday. Iowa was held to a season-low two hits on the afternoon by Hoosier hurler, Eric Arnett. Arnett threw a complete game, striking out a career-high 11 batters. The Black and Gold left seven runners on base, five of which were in scoring position. Iowa lost game one to Indiana Friday, 6-2. In the loss, the Hawkeyes left 10 runners on base, including seven in scoring position. Iowa had solid defense; however a costly error in the ninth allowed three unearned runs to score and seal the Hoosier win. Indiana starter, Blake Monar tossed his first career complete game, striking out nine in his fourth win of the year. Ryan Durant continued his hit-streak to eight games. Kevin Hoef was hit by two pitches to further his season total to 16 and also stole two bases.
HOEF GETS HOT IN BIG TEN PLAY: Kevin Hoef is hitting a solid .357 in Big Ten play, going 10-for-28 the past three weekends. Besides that, Hoef has five RBI and a team-high four doubles with two sacrifice bunts and two sacrifice flys in conference play.
FRESHMAN BIG TEN STARTERS: For the first time under Head Coach Jack Dahm the Hawkeyes are starting three freshman during Big Ten contests. Despite all three, Nick Brown, Jarred Hippen and Phil Schreiber, getting losses last weekend — they all threw the ball well. “Each one of them has earned their starts, it wasn’t given to them,” Dahm said. “And while I feel I should have upperclassmen for that role, these players have thrown the ball well and taken that spot.”
SCHATZ EXCELS ON THE MOUND: After seeing limited time on the mound a year ago, Patrick Schatz has made himself into one of Iowa’s go-to guys in the long reliever role. Schatz has a team-best 2.42 ERA in 26 innings pitched and has allowed only seven earned runs all year. Big Ten opponents are only hitting .100 against him — which is saying something, considering Schatz has come into the game in some sticky situations.
BLASER IS OUT FOR THE COUNT: Tyson Blaser, who was plauged with injuries last season, had surgery last week and will sit most, if not the remainder of the season. ZEISE CONTINUES TO SHINE: Chett Zeise made his first career start as a Hawkeye against Georgetown and has played in every game since. The versatile freshman (who can play infield and outfield) is hitting a solid .309 with a fourth-best seven doubles. Zeise has played second, shortstop, third and left field this season.