April 14, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa –The University of Iowa baseball team will host Western Illinois on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) at Duane Banks Field.
The Hawkeyes enter the midweek matchup winning four of its last five games to push its record to 20-13 this season. Western Illinois is 9-19 after winning 3-of-4 games last weekend in Fort Wayne, Ind., against IPFW.
Iowa sophomore Blake Hickman will start for the second-straight week after making his first career start against Kansas on April 8. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 7.15 ERA in 10 appearances where he has 11 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings, but has also issued 10 walks.
The Leathernecks will counter with junior Tom Constand, who is 1-5 with a 4.86 ERA in 11 appearances (five starts). The southpaw has allowed 22 runs on 40 hits over 33 1/3 innings this season and has struck out 25 batters.
The Hawkeyes enter the matchup swinging a hot bat, as the team has posted 10 or more hits in five-straight contests. Iowa is hitting .368 during the stretch with 20 extra base hits — 14 doubles, three triples and three home runs. Juniors Jake Yacinich (.556), Eric Toole (.533) and Kris Goodman (.500) and sophomore Nick Roscetti (.538) are all hitting above .500 during the stretch.
Western Illinois head coach Ryan Brownlee is no stranger to the Iowa baseball program. Brownlee was an assistant for the Hawkeyes for nine seasons from 2004-2012.
Live audio and video of Tuesday’s game will be available on Hawkeye All-Access on hawkeyesports.com with Brent Balbinot calling the play-by-play.