May 25, 2010
Tournament Bracket in PDF Format
IOWA CITY, IA — Five University of Iowa baseball student-athletes earned all-Big Ten recognition Tuesday evening from the Big Ten Conference. Iowa’s honorees included Jarred Hippen, Kurtis Muller, Zach McCool, Mike Corbeil and Michael Jacobs.
Muller, a native of Sun Priarie, WI, was named a second team all-Big Ten selection by the league’s coaches. The junior outfielder leads the team in 10 statistical categories, including at bats (198), runs (49), hits (76), triples (6), slugging percentage (.556), walks (21), hit by pitches (7), on base percentage (.458), stolen bases (24) and fielding percentage (1.000%). When compared to others in the conference, Muller ranks in the top ten in fielding percentage (first), triples (second), stolen bases (third), batting average (fifth), on base percentage (fifth) and hits (eighth). He tied a school single-game record after collecting five base hits at Penn State. The lead-off hitter was named Big Ten Player of the Week twice this year (May 11 and May 25). This marks this first time Muller earned all-Big Ten honors.
Hippen, Iowa’s sophomore ace, also received second team all-league accolades. The Rock Falls, IL, native has led the Hawkeyes to five wins this season in 14 starts. He boasts a team-low 3.62 ERA, four complete games and better than a two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hippen ranks in the top ten amongst other Big Ten pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts and starts. The lefty earned co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on May 25 after leading Iowa to a 7-2 win over Purdue. Hippen became the first Hawkeye pitcher to earn second team honors since Nick Erdman in 2007.
McCool, from Manchester, IA, earned third team laurels. The junior finished the regular season with the second-highest batting average among Big Ten third basemen (.346). He finished Big Ten play with a .378 batting average, eight doubles, one home run, a .500 slugging percentage, 10 stolen bases and a .440 on base percentage. McCool started all but two conference contests. He matched two school single-game records this season after recording five base hits and lacing two triples at Michigan State.
Corbeil, a freshman designated hitter, was named to the conference’s all-freshman squad. The Chesterton, MO, native became a regular in the Hawkeye lineup about half way through the season. The left-handed hitter boasts a .311 batting average with 14 RBI, four doubles, a .405 slugging percentage and two sacrifice flys. Corbeil, who batted .362 in conference play, leads Hawkeye freshman in all offensive statistics.
This marks the first time Muller, Hippen, McCool and Corbeil earned all-Big Ten honors.
Jacobs, hailing from Lenexa, KS, was Iowa baseball’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award honoree. The senior reliever appeared in 17 games this season, including one start. He is a leader on-and-off the field, having served on Iowa’s Unity Council three times and also being selected to the academic all-Big Ten team twice.
The Iowa baseball team will open Big Ten Tournament action tomorrow against the Purdue Boilermakers. First pitch is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. (CDT) at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus, OH. Hawkeye fans can watch the postseason contest on the Big Ten Network (HD) or listen on KXIC AM-800.