May 4, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
HAWKEYES THIS MIDWEEK: The Iowa Hawkeyes host UW-Milwaukee Tuesday at 6 p.m. The Panthers come to town with 21-21 record. The Hawkeyes will host Western Illinois for the third time this season at Duane Banks Field Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Iowa is 3-1 against the Leathernecks this season.
HAWKEYES THIS WEEKEND: Iowa will host Penn State Friday-Sunday at Duane Banks Field in hopes of ending its 11-game skid in the conference. The Nittany Lions come into town hoping to end their eight-game losing streak in the Big Ten.
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. Tuesday and Saturday’s games will be broadcasted on the radio. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday’s games are internet only.
SENIOR DAY AT DUANE BANKS: This weekend is “Senior Day” at Duane Banks Field. This year’s senior class includes: Matt Douglas, T.J. Cataldo, Nick Erdman, Wes Freie, Kevin Hoef, Kody McManis, Mike Schurz, Justin Toole and Steve Turnbull.
SCOUTING UW-MILWAUKEE: The Panthers are 21-21 with an 8-17 record on the road. UW-Milwaukee split with Cleveland State last weekend in a four-game series. The Panther offense is led by Tim Patzman with a team-best 10 homers, 36 RBI and .644 slugging percentage. Andy Gerhartz is someone to watch on the base paths for the Panthers, stealing 19 bases in 22 attempts this season. UW-Milwaukee reliever Cameron Amsrud has appeared in 25 games with a 3-0 record and 3.04 ERA. Iowa trails the all-time series between the schools, 4-7.
SCOUTING WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks are 12-28 and 1-3 against the Hawkeyes this year. Drew Laidig and Tyler Metcalf lead the Leatherneck offense. Laidig is hitting a solid .385 and a team-best 57 hits. Metcalf leads the team in homers (11), RBI (42) and strikeouts (43). The Western Illinois pitching staff has a 10.05 ERA and are led by starter Eric Eden with a 6.75 ERA in eight starts and 53.1 innings pitched. He leads the team with 45 strikeouts. Iowa leads the all-time series between the two schools, 60-24-2.
SCOUTING PENN STATE: The Nittany Lions are 22-22 with a 5-13 record in the Big Ten. They are looking to end an eight-game losing streak in the conference. Penn State’s offense is led by Jordan Steranka with a .386 batting average. He leads the team in hits (64), triples (3), homers (4), RBI (39) and slugging percentage (.548). Blake Lynd has 20 of the Nittany Lion’s 50 stolen bases. Starter T.J. Macy has a 4.35 ERA with a 3-4 record in 11 starts. He leads the team with 68.1 innings pitched and a whopping 82 strikeouts. Penn State leads the series between the two schools, 30-21.
FLANAGAN AS A STARTER: Freshman Sean Flanagan has taken advantage of his opportunities and has made the transition from starting left fielder to starting first baseman. Flanagan is hitting .309 with four home runs and a .618 slugging percentage.
MINNESOTA SUMMARY: The Gophers swept Iowa in three at Siebert Field last weekend in Minneapolis, MN. Minnesota won game three to complete the sweep Sunday, 12-3. Gopher starter Seth Rosin was dominate, allowing only three Iowa hits and striking out seven in six and two-third innings of work. Iowa lost game two Saturday to Minnesota, 26-9. The Gophers took a nine run lead in the first frame and never looked back–capitalizing on a season-high seven Hawkeye errors. The game featured six home runs. The Hawkeyes dropped game one to Minnesota Friday, 4-3. The Gophers had a big seventh inning to take their first lead of the game and win. Iowa had the tying and winning runs aboard in the top of the ninth, however were unable to get the timely hit. Dallas Burke led Iowa offensively, going 8-for-13 with two walks and six RBI. Kurtis Muller 5-for-10 from the leadoff spot of the lineup with four walks.
FRESHMEN STEP UP TO THE PLATE: In Iowa’s loss Saturday to Minnesota freshman Dallas Burke and Sean Flanagan drove in all nine Hawkeyes runs. Burke hit a grand slam as well as an RBI single, collecting a season-high six RBI. Flanagan hit a three-run bomb, his fourth of the season.
HITS, HITS, HITS!: Seventeen Hawkeyes have recorded at least one multi-hit game this season. Leading the team is Justin Toole and Ryan Durant with 17 and Kurtis Muller with 13. Six players are hitting above .300 so far this season, four of which are freshmen who have capitalized on their chances to play.
IOWA OFFENSE GETS GOING IN 2ND: The Hawkeyes have out scored opponents 55-34 in the second inning. The Iowa bullpen is able to seal the deal and get the win if the team is winning after the seventh inning, Iowa is 13-0 in that situation.
BURKE TAKES CATCHING ROLE: Freshman catcher Dallas Burke has seen a lot of action this season due to the injuries of Tyson Blaser and Kody McManis however, he has stepped up to the plate and exceled offensively for the Hawkeyes. Burke went 8-for-13 last weekend against the Gophers. He also hit his first collegiate grand slam in the series. He is hitting .317 on the year.
YOUNGSTERS GET CHANCE: Last weekend at Siebert Field only three upperclassmen were in the lineup. Six freshmen, four sophomores, one junior and two seniors got at least one at bat against the Gophers.
OFFENSE HITS OVER THE FENCES: Iowa currently has 32 home runs on the year, which is 10 more than all of last year. Wes Freie leads the way with six and T.J. Cataldo has five bombs to lead the squad. (Freie had a total of four last season.) Ten Hawkeyes have recorded a round-tripper. Sean Flanagan, Phil Keppler, Dallas Burke and Trevor Willis all hit big flys last weekend at Minnesota.
SCHREIBER HAS QUALITY START: Despite getting the no decision in Friday’s 4-3 loss, Schreiber pitched well. He went five and one third innings allowing only two runs.
Kevin Lee SHINES: Pitcher Kevin Lee has seen action in 15 games this year and leads the team with a 3.38 ERA. Lee has pitched 13.1 innings and has 11 strikeouts.
MCMANIS IS OUT AFTER HBP: Kody McManis took a pitch off the face against Michigan State and after having surgery is out for the season.
HOEF DONE FOR THE YEAR: Kevin Hoef attempted to steal home in the final Corridor Classic last week and injured his hand after a head first slide. The senior third basemen played the remainder of the game. Hoef ended his season with a .294 batting average, team-best two triples and 19 hit-by-pitches. He ends his career with a record 68 hit-by-pitches.
TOOLE IS OUT FOR THE SEASON: On his first at bat of game two against the Spartans, Justin Toole wore a pitch off his forearm. Despite being injured, Toole proceeded to steal two bases before being taken out of the game and to the hospital. Toole ended the season with a .346 batting average, team-best 13 doubles and 15 stolen bases.
BLASER IS OUT FOR THE COUNT: Tyson Blaser, who was plagued with injuries last season, had season-ending surgery on his hand about a month ago.