Hawkeyes Host Wildcats in Big Ten Opener

March 22, 2012

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Complete Release

THE SETTING:
Iowa opens Big Ten play Friday when it hosts Northwestern at Duane Banks Field. First pitch of game one of the three-game set is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. The Hawkeyes (7-10) and Wildcats (7-12) will also play Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m. each day. Admission is $3 for adults, and free for students.

ON THE NET:
Iowa baseball fans can follow the Hawkeyes with live stats (Gametracker) on hawkeyesports.com. Click on the GT link found on both the front page and the baseball schedule page.

ROAD WARRIORS:
Iowa’s first 16 games to start the season were away from Iowa City. The Hawkeyes opened at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge in Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 17-19), before traveling to the Coastal Carolina Tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Feb. 24-26). The Black and Gold then visited Clarksville, Tenn. for the Austin Peay/Riverview Inn Classic (March 2-4). Most recently, the Hawkeyes played seven games in seven days in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Fla. (March 10-16). Iowa is 6-8 this season in neutral site games, 0-2 in true road games, and 1-0 at Duane Banks Field.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS:
Northwestern is 7-12 on the season. The Wildcats are coached by Paul Stevens. Stevens is in his 24th season as Northwestern’s head baseball coach. He is the program’s all-time winningest coach. The Wildcats also traveled to Winter Haven, Fla., for their spring trip. Northwestern defeated Eastern Illinois (1-0), Long Island (9-4), and Nebraska-Omaha (3-1), and fell to Navy (6-5), Bucknell (10-6), and Jacksonville State (6-5) in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

ALL-TIME SERIES:
The Hawkeyes have played Northwestern 226 times, marking the second most contests against any team in program history. Iowa has played Minnesota 280 times, marking the most games an Iowa team has played against any opponent in any sport. Iowa is 128-96-2 all-time against Northwestern. The 128 wins are the most for Iowa against any team in program history. The Hawkeyes and Wildcats have not met since 2009, when they split two games in Evanston. Northwestern won game one, 4-3. Iowa took game two, 10-1, and game three was cancelled due to rain.

HAWKEYES SCORE SEASON-HIGH 20 IN HOME OPENING WIN:
Iowa defeated Grand View Wednesday in its home opener at Duane Banks Field, 20-1. The Hawkeye offense scored a season-high 20 runs and belted out 15 hits. It marked the first time Iowa scored 20 or more runs since March 18, 2009, when it won at Tennessee-Martin, 25-6. It also marked Iowa’s largest margin of victory since the win over Tennessee-Martin. Thirteen Hawkeyes tallied hits. Sean Flanagan became the second Iowa player this season to launch two home runs in a single game (Senior Chett Zeise recorded two in a 17-3 win over Akron on March 2). The senior finished 2-for-2 with five RBI and two runs. Sophomore Taylor Zeutenhorst registered his first career home run as well. Mike McQuillan, Phil Keppler and Ryan Rumpf each tallied two RBI. Freshman Jake Yacinich tallied his fifth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-5 with a run scored. Yacinich was playing against his grandfather Lou, who is Grand View’s head coach. Hedrick started and earned his first career win. The freshman pitched five innings in his second career start, allowing one run while scattering seven hits. He struck out three Vikings.

IF IT’S FAIR, IT’S GONE:
Sean Flanagan became the second Iowa player this season to launch two home runs in a single game in the 20-1 win over Grand View on March 21. The senior finished 2-for-2 with five RBI and two runs. Fellow senior Chett Zeise also recorded two long balls in a 17-3 win over Akron on March 2. Sophomore Taylor Zeutenhorst registered his first career home run in the win over Grand View as well.

SPRING TRIP RECAP:
The Hawkeyes played seven games in seven days in Winter Haven, Fla., last week. Iowa opened with losses to Georgetown (6-1) on March 10 and Illinois State (10-6) on March 11 before winning two-straight against Eastern Illinois (2-1) on March 12 and Bucknell (8-6) on March 13. On March 14, Iowa staged a late-inning rally but ultimately fell to Long Island, 5-3. The Hawkeyes closed the trip with a 6-3 win over Jacksonville State on Thursday and a 5-1 loss to Army on Friday.

LEADING THE WAY IN WINTER HAVEN:
Mike McQuillan led the Iowa offense on the spring trip, batting .450 (9-of-20) in the seven games. The senior scored 10 runs, while notching two doubles, three stolen bases and six walks. On the mound, Sasha Kuebel started against Eastern Illinois and recorded his first career win. The freshman pitched eight stellar innings. He allowed one run and scattered seven hits. He struck out seven while allowing no walks. Nick Brown notched his first win of the season in a win over Jacksonville State on Iowa’s spring trip. He pitched an inning and two-thirds out of the bullpen, allowing no runs and no hits. In addition, the senior registered his first career save, as he notched the save in Iowa’s wins over Eastern Illinois and Bucknell.

6 NAMED TO AUSTIN PEAY ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM:
Six University of Iowa baseball student-athletes were named to the Riverview Inn Classic All-Tournament team after Iowa won 2-of-3 games in Clarkesville, Tenn. (March 2-4). Shortstop Jake Yacinich, outfielder Kris Goodman, pitchers Matt Dermody and Jarred Hippen, designated hitter Ryan Rumpf and utility player Jake Mangler were recognized. Four of the six of the honorees were freshmen. Yacinich had five hits, two of which were doubles, scored five runs and had four RBI. Rumpf combined for a team-best seven hits in the three games, collecting two triples and a double to go along with six RBI. Mangler had four hits, a team-best seven RBI and scored three runs. Goodman had six hits and scored four runs. Hippen got his first win of the season in the win over Akron on March 2, throwing eight strong innings, allowing three runs while scattering 10 hits. Dermody got a no-decision on March 3 at Austin Peay, throwing six and two-thirds, striking out seven batters, and allowing only two runs.

RUMPF GARNERS ACCOLADE:
College Sports Madness named Ryan Rumpf its Big Ten Baseball Player of the Week on March 6 for his efforts in the Austin Peay Tournament. The freshman went 7-for-17 with two runs, two triples, a double, six RBI and 12 total bases in the three games. In addition, Rumpf earned the win for Iowa on March 4 against Youngstown State. He opened the game as the Hawkeyes’ designated hitter before moving to the mound in the 10th. Rumpf pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed no hits. He struck out two while recording his first career victory.

KUEBEL EARNS WEEKLY HONOR:
Sasha Kuebel was named Big Ten co-Freshman of the Week on Feb. 27. The left-handed starter garnered his first career weekly honor. Kuebel (6-1, 200) started and took a no-decision despite a stellar outing against Virginia Tech on Feb. 26 in the Caravelle Resort Baseball at the Beach Tournament. In his second career start, the rookie pitched seven and a third, allowing one run on three hits. He struck out three Hokies.

PLUNK
Iowa has been hit-by-pitch 38 times, marking the most of any Big Ten team, and 22nd nationally. Ohio State is second with 23. Senior Sean Flanagan leads the Big Ten with nine HBPs and sophomore Keith Brand ranks tied for fourth with six. The Hawkeyes have been hit six times in one game twice (March 2 vs. Akron and March 4 vs. Youngstown State).

CLOSE CALLS:
The Hawkeyes held a lead or were tied in the eighth inning of all three Big Ten/Big East Challenge games in the opening weekend. On Feb. 24, Iowa dropped a 1-0 decision at Coastal Carolina and led Virginia Tech on Feb. 26, 3-0, in the eighth before ultimately falling, 4-3. Iowa dropped a 10-inning game at Austin Peay on March 3, 4-3, and won a 10-inning game against Youngstown State on March 4, 16-15. The Hawkeyes defeated Eastern Illinois, 2-1, on March 12. Iowa scored two in the final frame to earn the victory.

FRESH STARTS:
Eleven Hawkeye freshmen have seen action to open the season. Andrew Hedrick, Nick Hibbing, Taylor Kaufman and Sasha Kuebel have seen action on the mound, and Jake Yacinich, Ryan Rumpf, Jake Mangler, Kris Goodman, Anthony Torres, Nick Day and Eric Toole have seen action in the field.

HAWKEYE SENIORS:
The Hawkeyes have 11 seniors on the roster: LHP/DH Patrick Brennan, RHP Nick Brown, SS Kasey Carling, UT Andrew Ewing, RHP Tim Fangman, OF/IF Sean Flanagan, LHP, Jarred Hippen, IF/RHP Phil Keppler, RHP Patrick Lala, IF Mike McQuillan and IF Chett Zeise.

ONE THOUSAND
Iowa’s first game of the season against Pittsburgh, a 7-5 victory, marked the 1,000th career game for head coach Jack Dahm. He is 474-526-2 all-time (283-276-2 at Creighton, 191-250 at Iowa).

HIPPEN GARNERS PRESEASON ATTENTION:
Jarred Hippen, a senior left-hander, is a two-time second team All-Big Ten honoree and a 2010 All-Big Ten Tournament team selection. He was one of three pitchers named to the 2012 Big Ten Preseason All-Conference First Team by College Sports Madness.

ACES WILD – HIPPEN:
Jarred Hippen has been Iowa’s ace since his freshman campaign. A year ago, Hippen started 14 games. He tossed four complete games and one complete game shutout. Hippen nearly threw a perfect game, allowing only one hit at Minnesota (Apr. 29). The outing marked Iowa’s first one-hitter since Troy Wulf one-hit Southwest Missouri State on March 14, 1998. Hippen tossed 94.2 innings and recorded an ERA of 3.14, finishing with a 4-6 record. He ranks second in the Big Ten this season with 35.2 innings pitched.

ACES WILD – DERMODY:
Left-hander Matt Dermody returns for his junior season. He was selected in Major League Baseball’s 2011 First-Year Player Draft by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round (888th pick). Dermody finished 4-6 in 2011, and led the Big Ten with 75 strikeouts, which tied for 10th-most in a season in Iowa history.

NEWCOMER ON THE MOUND:
Freshman LHP Sasha Kuebel is the third starter in the Hawkeye rotation. The St. Louis native was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 31st round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He was the Missouri State Pitcher of the Year as a senior. In his first start for the Hawkeyes on Feb. 19 against West Virginia, Kuebel got a no-decision, throwing four and a third, allowing two runs on four hits. In his second career start on Feb. 26 against Virginia Tech, the rookie pitched seven and a third, allowing one run on three hits in a no-decision. He struck out three Hokies. His performance garnered co-Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Kuebel started against Eastern Illinois on March 12 and recorded his first career win. The freshman pitched eight stellar innings. He allowed one run and scattered seven hits. He struck out seven while allowing no walks.

`Q’:
Mike McQuillan, known as `Q’ by his teammates and coaches, returns for his season in 2012. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native has hit over .300 in each of his first three seasons in the Black and Gold. McQuillan, who has started 133 career games, led Iowa in batting average (.330), hits (66), at-bats (200), RBI (31), walks (27) and on-base percentage (.410) a year ago. He is batting .317 this season and leads the team with 19 hits.

DUANE BANKS FIELD:
In 2010, the Hawkeyes added 500 chair back seats behind home plate of Duane Banks Field. The chair backs allow Hawkeye fans to purchase season tickets. Last year, Duane Banks Field underwent a facelift, with a complete resurfacing of the field. New sod, dirt and drainage system were installed. Additionally, new batting cages were put in place down the right field line. In 2009, the UI Recreation Building underwent a complete makeover. Improvements included: a new locker room, lounge, training room and weight room for the baseball program.

THE ASSISTANT COACHES:
Head Coach Jack Dahm is assisted by coach Ryan Brownlee and pitching coach Chris Maliszewski, along with volunteer assistant coach Brian Miller and undergraduate assistant coach Dusty Napoleon. Brownlee is in his ninth season at Iowa. Over the past 11 seasons, Brownlee has had 28 players he coached or recruited drafted; two more signed free agent contracts. In the past three years, Kurtis Muller, Patrick Schatz, Steve Turnbull, Kyle Heim, Mike Schurz and recruits Matt Dermody, Dan Sheppard, Patrick Lala, Taylor Zeutenhorst, Derrick Loveless, Sasha Kuebel and Nick Hibbing were drafted by major league teams. In six years of coaching summer collegiate leagues, he has seen 33 of his players sign pro contracts, including Khalil Green of the Padres and Kevin Cash of the Yankees, Joe Thatcher of the Padres, Dan Meyer of the Marlins and Luke Scott of the Astros. Last season, Brownlee coached Trevor Willis and Tyson Blaser to third team all-conference honors and helped freshman outfielder Taylor Zeutenhorst earn Big Ten All-Freshman accolades. Blaser led the Hawkeyes and tied for second in the Big Ten with 18 doubles, which ties for the fourth most in a single season in Iowa history. Additionally, Willis led the league and ranked second nationally with a career-high nine triples, which established a new school single-season record.

Maliszewski is in his fourth season as the Hawkeye pitching coach. In addition to his role as pitching coach, Maliszewski is also responsible for the team’s travel arrangements and assists with the youth summer camps. In 2011, Maliszewski guided his pitching staff to one of the best seasons on the mound in Hawkeye history. Iowa registered an ERA of 4.22, the lowest since 1980 (4.14). Starting lefty Jarred Hippen earned second team all-conference laurels for the second consecutive year. Starting LHP Matt Dermody and Hippen, ranked first and third in the Big Ten, respectively, in strikeouts during the regular season. Hippen, who has thrown eight complete games in the last two seasons under Maliszewski’s tutelage, nearly threw a perfect game against Minnesota, allowing only one hit. In addition, Maliszewski helped guide newcomers Tim Fangman and Patrick Lala to successful first years in the Black and Gold. Fangman finished in the top ten in the Big Ten in numerous categories, including ERA, opposing batting average, games finished, hits allowed, runs allowed and walks allowed. Maliszewski had three players he coached or recruited drafted in 2011. Junior starting left-handed pitcher Matt Dermody was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round (888th pick) and incoming recruits Sasha Kuebel and Nick Hibbing were also selected. Kuebel was picked by the Oakland Athletics in the 31st round (946) and Hibbing was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 42nd round (1262).

Miller and Napoleon are each in their first seasons on the Hawkeye staff. Miller has worked as a baseball coach since 1992, including serving as the head baseball coach at Mid-Prairie High School from 2000 to 2010. He served as the Kirkwood Community College pitching coach from 2006 to 2011. Miller also coached the Iowa City High School sophomore baseball team from 1993 to 1999 and was an assistant baseball coach at Iowa City Regina High School in 1992. Napoleon played at Iowa from 2006-07 before being drafted by Oakland in the 19th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He played at all four minor league levels from 2007-2010 and made it to the Triple A level in 2010. As a Hawkeye, Napoleon appeared in 105 games and made 100 starts. The former catcher and first baseman led the team with 34 RBIs and tied for the team lead with two home runs in 2006 as a freshman. In 2007, Napoleon ranked third on the team with a .354 batting average. He ranked first on the team in RBI (56), walks (50), on-base percentage (.506) and was second with 12 doubles, 44 runs scored and 62 hits.

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!:
Hawkeye fans can purchase 2012 Iowa baseball season tickets now. Fans can reserve their own chair backs for the 2012 season by calling the UI Athletic Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS. Reserved chair back season tickets are available for $25, while general admission season tickets are $15.

HEADSHOTS AVAILABLE:
Up-to-date head shots of all Iowa players and coaches are available on the internet at pics.hawkeyebaseball.com. Contact the Iowa Athletic Communications office if you are in need of additional photos.

ON THE HORIZON:
The Hawkeyes will host Nebraska-Omaha in a mid-week game on March 28 at 6:05 p.m. at Duane Banks Field. Iowa will then travel to Indiana for a three-game set beginning next Friday.