July 6, 2015
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LEADING OFF
? Iowa finished the 2015 season with a 41-18 overall record — the second most wins in a single season in program history. The Hawkeyes advanced to their fourth NCAA Tournament (first since 1990), going 2-2 to post the first NCAA Tournament win since 1972.
? Iowa won 19 games in Big Ten play to finish as runner-up to earn its highest regular season finish in 25 years.
? The Hawkeyes had a pair of student-athletes garner three All-America distinctions. Tyler Peyton was a third-team All-American by D1Baseball.com and NCBWA as a utility player, while Blake Hickman was a Louisville Slugger All-American as a starting pitcher.
? Iowa had a school-record six student-athletes earn All-Big Ten recognition in 2015 in Blake Hickman (first team), Eric Toole, Nick Hibbing, and Calvin Mathews (second team), and Nick Roscetti and Tyler Peyton (third team).
? UI head coach Rick Heller finished as the winningest coach in Iowa history in his first two seasons, winning 71 games. He is the second coach in school history to bring a team to the NCAA Tournament (Duane Banks).
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FINAL RANKINGS
The Hawkeyes were among the final national rankings for the first time in program history. Iowa finished the season ranked 20th by Collegiate Baseball, 25th by Baseball America, and 28th by the NCBWA. The team was ranked in at least one poll in the final 10 polls, climbing as high as No. 13 — its highest ranking since 1990 — on May 12 by Collegiate Baseball.
HAWKEYES COMPETE IN NCAA REGIONAL
? Iowa went 2-2 at the NCAA Springfield Regional, winning a pair of games against Oregon while losing twice to No. 8 national seed Missouri State. The two losses were by a combined three runs (5-3, 3-2).
? The opening round win over Oregon on May 29 was the program’s first NCAA Tournament win since 1972 and gave Iowa 40 victories for the first time since 1985.
? Nick Hibbing was named the Springfield Regional Most Outstanding Player and to the regional’s all-tournament team after going 1-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three appearances, allowing one run on four hits over 10 1/3 innings with 12 strikeouts to three walks.
? Hibbing threw 8 2/3 innings of no-hit ball over two May 31 appearances against Oregon and Missouri State. The right-hander got out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the ninth inning in an eventual 2-1 win over the Ducks before notching a career-high eight strikeouts against the Bears in 5 2/3 innings.
2 HAWKEYES GARNER ALL-AMERICA HONORS
? Two-way junior Tyler Peyton earned All-America honors as a utility player by two outlets in 2015. The Grimes, Iowa, native was a third-team All-American by D1Baseball.com and by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). Peyton was the first Hawkeye since 1990 to earn All-America distinction by two different outlets. Peyton went 7-4 with a 3.03 ERA as Iowa’s No. 1 starter and hit a team-best .337 with 31 runs and 31 RBIs.
? Junior Blake Hickman earned Louisville Slugger third-team All-America honors as a starting pitcher. The right-handed pitcher went 9-2 with a 2.99 ERA, tossing 84 1/3 innings as Iowa’s No. 2 starter.
6 HAWKEYES EARN ALL-BIG TEN RECOGNITION
The Hawkeyes had a school-record six All-Big Ten selections in 2015 in Blake Hickman (1st), Nick Hibbing, Eric Toole, Calvin Mathews (2nd), and Nick Roscetti and Tyler Peyton (3rd).
? Hickman is the first Iowa starting pitcher since 2004 to earn first-team honors. It was the first honor of Hickman’s career.
? Toole finished his career as a three-time all-conference selection, earning second team honors in 2013 and 2015 and third-team in 2014. He was the first Hawkeye to earn three all-conference accolades since his brother Justin Toole (2007-09).
? Hibbing earned his first career All-Big Ten nod and became the first Iowa reliever since 2006 to earn all-league recognition.
? Mathews earned his first career honor and 2/3 of Iowa’s rotation earned all-conference recognition.
? Peyton earned his first career honor after ranking in the top-five in the Big Ten in hitting. He is the first Iowa first baseman to be honored since 2002.
? Roscetti became the second straight Iowa shortstop to earn All-Big Ten honors. Hit .391 in Big Ten action with 36 hits — second most in league action.
5 HAWKEYES DRAFTED IN 2015 MLB DRAFT
Iowa tied a school record when it had five players selected in the 2015 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The Hawkeyes also had five players taken in the 1992 draft.
? Blake Hickman was selected in the seventh round (202nd pick) by the Chicago White Sox.
? Nick Hibbing was taken in the 16th round (487th pick) by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
? Eric Toole was selected in the 22nd round (647th pick) by the Colorado Rockies.
? Kris Goodman was taken in the 32nd round (956th pick) by the Miami Marlins.
? Tyler Peyton was selected in the 33rd round (985th pick) by the Cincinnati Reds. Peyton elected to return to school for his senior season.
STELLAR PITCHING
The Hawkeyes won in 2015 with their pitching and defense. Iowa’s pitching staff shattered the school record for ERA, finishing with a 2.95 ERA over 59 games. The previous school record was 3.63 in 1971.
? Iowa ranked 10th nationally in hits allowed per nine innings (7.69) and finished 16th in the NCAA in ERA (2.95).
? 2/3 of Iowa’s starting rotation earned All-Big Ten recognition. (Blake Hickman, first team; Calvin Mathews, second team)
? Tyler Peyton was a third-team All-American as a utility player and logged 95 innings — tied for the seventh most innings in a single season in program history.
? Junior Luke Vandermaten posted a 1.06 ERA over 22 appearances and 42 1/3 innings. The ERA figure is the third-best in a single season in program history.
CONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT
The Hawkeyes rolled to 41 wins with a steady, consistent season. Iowa rolled through the early season portion of its schedule, going 15-5 during the first six weeks.
The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play with a three-game sweep of No. 19 Indiana — the first of a school record seven straight Big Ten series victories (eight straight dating back to the 2014 season). Iowa posted league series wins over Indiana, Purdue, Maryland, Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan, and Minnesota before losing 2-of-3 games at Rutgers during the final series of the regular season.
Iowa had a nine game winning streak following a season-opening loss to Kansas State. The Hawkeyes never lost more than two consecutive games throughout the course of the season.
DEFENSIVELY DEFENSIVE
The Hawkeyes finished the season ranked 11th nationally (and second in the Big Ten) in fielding percentage with a .978 clip. Iowa committed 50 errors in 59 games and turned 50 double plays on the year. Iowa controlled the running game, allowing just 24 steals in 42 attempts on the year — both fewest in the Big Ten.
IOWA WAS GREAT: 1-OF-8
Iowa was one of eight schools nationally to make a bowl game in football, advanced to the men’s and women’s basketball NCAA Tournaments, and play in an NCAA Regional in baseball. The list includes: Arkansas, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, and Texas.
Only Iowa and Oklahoma State played in a January bowl game.
QUICK HITTERS
? The Hawkeyes were one of a Big Ten record five NCAA Regional qualifiers in 2015. Illinois, who hosted a Regional, and Maryland advanced to Super Regionals. Indiana and Michigan also made the field.
? Iowa went 8-3 in games against ranked competition in 2015.
? Seniors Eric Toole (191), Jake Mangler (181), Kris Goodman (173), and Nick Day (133) combined to start 684 games the last four years as Hawkeyes. Mangler started 96 consecutive games at second base to close out his career.
? Twenty-seven games were decided by two runs or less. Iowa went 18-9 in such contests.
? Iowa went 20-7 when playing error-free baseball and 33-11 when committing one or fewer errors. Iowa was 8-7 when committing two or more errors.
? The Hawkeyes went 30-3 when out-hitting their opponents and 30-7 when scoring first. Conversely, Iowa went 11-11 when the opponent scored first.
? Iowa out scored opponents 36-13 in the first inning, and 99-60 over the first three innings.
HELLER JOINS EXCLUSIVE GROUP
By leading the Hawkeyes to NCAA Regionals, UI head coach Rick Heller joined an exclusive group. Heller is one of five active coaches to have led three Division I teams to NCAA Regionals and one of nine all-time. Heller has guided Northern Iowa, Indiana State, and Iowa to the NCAAs.
Arizona State’s Tracy Smith (Miami, Ohio, Indiana, Arizona State, and Auburn’s Sonny Galloway (Oral Roberts, Oklahoma, Auburn) also joined the club in 2015. Others include: Navy’s Paul Kostacopoulos (Providence, Maine, Navy), Arizona’s Andy Lopez (Pepperdine, Florida, Arizona), Texas’ Augie Garrido (Cal State Fullerton, Illinois, Texas), Ron Polk (Georgia Southern, Mississippi State, Georgia), Larry Cochell (Oral Roberts, Cal State Fullerton, Oklahoma), and Pat McMahon (Old Dominion, Mississippi State, Florida).
BEST OF THE RUNNERS-UP
The Hawkeyes finished 19-5 in the Big Ten to finish second in the league standings. Iowa had a .792 conference winning percentage — the best by a runner-up team since the league returned to single division play in 1988.
TEAM SINGLE GAME RECORDS
1st – At-Bats – 64 vs. Sacramento State, 4/28/15
1st – Putouts – 54 vs. Sacramento State, 4/18/15
1st – Innings Played – 18 vs. Sacramento State, 4/18/15
t1st – Walks – 16 vs. Western Illinois, 5/5/15
INDIVIDUAL SINGLE GAME RECORDS
t1st – Walks – Eric Toole – 4 vs. Northwestern, 4/28/15
t1st – Assists – Nick Roscetti – 9 vs. Northwestern, 4/28/15
TEAM SINGLE SEASON RECORDS
1st – ERA – 2.95
1st – Saves – 19
1st – Innings – 537 1/3
1st – At-Bats – 2,009
1st – Putouts – 1,608
INDIVIDUAL SINGLE SEASON RECORDS
3rd – ERA – Luke Vandermaten – 1.06
t4th – Wins – Blake Hickman – 9
t7th – Innings – Tyler Peyton – 95
t8th – Hits – Eric Toole – 77
t11th – Steals – Eric Toole – 27
t11th – ERA – Nick Hibbing – 1.57
INDIVIDUAL CAREER RECORDS
Eric Toole
1st – Singles – 207
2nd – At-Bats – 776
3rd – Hits – 239
4th – Steals – 70
6th – Games – 200
11th – Runs – 133
Jake Mangler
1st – Assists – 528
t3rd – Singles – 183
4th – At-Bats – 741
9th – Hits – 215
11th – Games – 188
Kris Goodman
t7th – Games – 194
10th – At-Bats – 649
11th – Singles – 131
Nick Hibbing
1st – Appearances – 82
4th – Saves – 17
A DAY TO REMEMBER
Senior Nick Day belted a two-out, two-run walk-off home run into the left field bleachers at Target Field to send the Hawkeyes to a 3-2 come-from behind victory over Ohio State on May 20 at the Big Ten Tournament.
? Day finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. It was his first multi-hit game since April 3 at Purdue, and his first home run since April 1 at Western Illinois.
? The blast was Day’s first career home run against a Big Ten opponent and fourth overall. It was Iowa’s first walk-off home run since Jason White in 2008 (10-9 win over Illinois).
? Day’s blast was the No. 5 play on SportsCenter’s Top-10 plays on May 20 — Iowa’s second appearance on the plays of the day this season.
PEYTON: SEMIFINALIST FOR OLERUD AWARD
Junior Tyler Peyton was a semifinalist for the 2015 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. The award is presented to the nation’s top player both on the mound and at the plate. He was the only player from the Big Ten Conference to make the cut.
WINNING A MARATHON
The Hawkeyes played what is believed to be the longest game in school history, downing Sacramento State, 4-3, in 18 innings on April 28. The game lasted five hours and 40 minutes, used 14 pitchers and 33 positional players. Iowa had all-time records in at-bats (64) and putouts (54) in the contest.
WALK-OFF WINNERS
The Hawkeyes posted six walk-off wins this season with contributions from its entire roster. Iowa overcame deficits in 15 games, going 12-3 in such contests.
? Tyler Peyton delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to send Iowa to a 6-5 victory over Missouri State.
? Senior Jake Mangler delivered a bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to send Iowa to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Northwestern.
? Junior Eric Schenck-Joblinske drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Hawkeyes a 4-3 win over Northern Illinois.
? Junior Jimmy Frankos hit a full count, two-out, bases loaded RBI single to left field, sending Iowa to a 3-2 come-from-behind win over No. 25 Nebraska.
? Junior John Barrett hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field, plating Eric Toole to down Sacramento State, 4-3, in 18 innings.
? Nick Day hit a two-strike, two-out, two-run home run into the left field bleachers at Target Field to give Iowa a 3-2 walk-off victory over Ohio State in an opening round game at the Big Ten Tournament.
TWO-WAY TYLER
For the final two months of the season, junior Tyler Peyton hit and pitched for himself on Friday nights… and quite well. Peyton went 4-2 with a 3.26 ERA in nine starts playing both ways, allowing 24 runs (21 earned) on 54 hits over 58 innings. He opened Big Ten play with 14 1/3 innings of shutout ball. Offensively, Peyton hit .276 with five runs and two RBIs when playing both ways. He drove in the go-head run against No. 17 Indiana and went 3-for-5 in the opener at Purdue.
? Peyton was fourth in the Big Ten with a .439 on-base percentage, tied for sixth in walks (34), and 11th in batting average (.337). On the mound, he was sixth in innings (95), seventh in strikeouts (74), seventh in wins (7), and 12th in ERA (3.03). Peyton made the third-most starts (16) in the conference.
THE ULTIMATE TABLE SETTER
? Eric Toole reached base safely in 54-of-59 games in 2015, and he hit safely in 46 games. Toole had a career-high 77 hits this season, the ninth-most in the Big Ten and the eighth-most in a single season in school history. Toole also led the team with 42 runs. His five triples were tied for seventh in the conference.
? The centerfielder was second in the Big Ten with 27 steals in 34 attempts, which are the 11th-most in a single season in school history.
HIBBING DAZZLES
Senior Nick Hibbing rode a dominant regular season to second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2015 — the first all-league recognition of his career.
? Hibbing went 2-0 with a 0.74 ERA and six saves in 10 Big Ten appearances. He had 22 strikeouts against zero walks in Big Ten play.
? The right-hander didn’t walk a batter for a span of 48 innings from Feb. 13 to May 31. He finished the season with 47 strikeouts to five walks and a 1.59 ERA — the 11th-best in a single season in program history.
? Hibbing had a 19 1/3 scoreless innings streak from April 18-May 21.
ROSCETTI BLOSSOMS IN APRIL
After hitting .210 and driving in six runs over the first 1 1/2 months (21 games) of the season, junior Nick Roscetti’s game blossomed in April.
? The shortstop hit .378 with 11 runs, and 11 RBIs in April. He had 10 multi-hit games during the month, including a 3-for-4, three-run, three-RBI performance at Purdue on April 3.
? Roscetti rode his hot streak to third-team All-Big Ten honors after hitting .391 with 36 hits, 18 runs, and 17 RBIs. in league play. The 36 hits were tied for the second-most in the Big Ten this season. He drove in a career-high four runs in a 13-7 win at Michigan on May 1.
? Roscetti finished second on the team with 21 multi-hit games and led the team with eight multi-RBI games. He had a career-long nine game hitting streak from April 25 to May 8.
IOWA PITCHING SHINES
? The Hawkeyes allowed two earned runs or fewer in 33 games this season, including 16 against Big Ten competition.
? Iowa used the same weekend rotation for the duration of the season. Tyler Peyton, Blake Hickman, and Calvin Mathews were a combined 21-10 with a 3.27 ERA over 250 2/3 innings with 158 strikeouts to 90 walks.
? Iowa’s pitching staff had three shutouts in 2015 (vs. Cincinnati (13 innings), vs. Indiana, at Michigan) — the most for the program since 2007 (four shutouts).
? Iowa was second in the Big Ten in ERA (2.95), first in opposing batting average (.233), tied for second in saves (19) and tied for fourth in innings (537 1/3). The Hawkeyes allowed the fewest hits (459), the second fewest earned runs (176), and third-fewest runs (207) in the conference.
? The Hawkeyes’ starting pitchers are 21-10 with a 3.00 ERA in 59 games. Iowa had 190 strikeouts in 279 1/3 innings while issuing 103 walks.
? Iowa’s 537 1/3 innings pitched were a single season school record.
IN RELIEF
? The UI bullpen went 20-8 with a 2.90 ERA with a school record 19 saves, which were tied for the second-most in the Big Ten. Iowa’s relievers held opposing batters to a .227 average and have 183 strikeouts.
? Junior Luke Vandermaten didn’t allow a run in his first 10 appearances and allowed only six runs (five earned) runs in 22 appearances. The right-hander surrendered 32 hits over 42 1/3 innings, fanning 23. Vandermaten went 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA with four saves. His ERA is third-best in a single-season school history.
? Junior southpaw Ryan Erickson went 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA with one save and has 27 strikeouts to 20 walks. Erickson threw a career-high 5 2/3 innings at Michigan to tally his fourth win.
? Iowa’s relief corps converted 19-of-20 save opportunities in 2015. The Hawkeyes went 32-2 when leading after six, 32-1 leading after seven, and 33-1 leading after eight.
JUNIOR Tyler Peyton…
? shined as a two-way player for the Hawkeyes, going 7-4 with a 3.03 ERA with 74 strikeouts on the mound, while hitting .337 with 31 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
? was a third-team All-American as a utility player by D1Baseball.com and NCBWA — Iowa’s first multi All-American since 1990… semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award.
? hit for himself in nine times while pitching; started at first base when he was not on the mound.
? pitched at least five innings in 14 of his 16 starts, allowing one or fewer runs in his first four and nine total starts… led the team with eight quality starts.
? had five games with at least five strikeouts without issuing a walk.
? tossed 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball against Oregon in NCAA Regionals… scattered seven hits and had five strikeouts without issuing a walk for his seventh win.
? went 6 1/3 innings against Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, allowing one run on eight hits… had seven strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.
? tallied his sixth win, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and fanning five against Minnesota (5/8).
? threw 8 1/3 innings of one-run ball, scattering eight hits against Nebraska. Peyton finished the game with nine strikeouts to zero walks, his second such game of the season (at Kansas).
? went eight innings in back-to-back starts against No. 17 Indiana and Purdue… went 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA in eight Big Ten starts… opened Big Ten play with 14 1/3 shutout innings.
? threw his first career complete game shutout against No. 19 Indiana, scattering five hits, striking out five, and not walking a batter in a 2-0 victory on March 27, which resulted in him being selected as Big Ten Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on March 31. He threw eight innings, allowing one run on seven hits with seven strikeouts in a win at Purdue.
? is 12-5 in his Iowa career with a 3.84 ERA in 30 starts. Peyton has 14 quality starts and has pitched into the seventh inning 13 times in his career.
JUNIOR Blake Hickman…
? was a Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-American and a second-team All-Mideast Region selection.
? was a first-team All-Big Ten selection, Iowa’s first starting pitcher to earn the distinction since 2004… also a second-team All-Big Ten selection by College Sports Madness.
? went 9-2 with a 2.99 ERA in 16 starts. He had 52 strikeouts against 42 walks… won first five Big Ten starts and went 7-0 with a 2.45 ERA over 47 2/3 innings in league action, fanning 26, and giving up 13 runs on 32 hits. The seven wins were tied for the league lead.
? his nine wins are the most by a Hawkeye since 2005 (Tim Gudex) and are tied for the fourth-most in a single season in school history. The school record for career wins is 11 by Brett Backlund (1992), John DeJarld (1990), and Harold Haub (1940).
? was second on the team with six quality starts and threw at least six innings in eight of his last 13 starts.
? recorded his ninth win, scattering two hits over five innings at Rutgers (5/15)… had one strikeout, while issuing one walk.
? notched his eighth win, allowing one run on five hits over six innings against Minnesota (5/8)… had five strikeouts against two walks.
? carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning against Cincinnati (2/28) and into the seventh (4/11) at No. 16 Maryland.
? tallied his fifth-straight victory, allowing two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings against No. 25 Nebraska.
? notched his fourth-straight and sixth win, throwing seven shutout innings, scattering six hits and striking out three against Northwestern (4/18).
? tallied his fifth win, allowing one run on three hits over 6 2/3 innings at No. 16 Maryland (4/11)… was perfect through four innings and had a no-hitter through 6 2/3.
? notched fourth win at Purdue, allowing four runs on five hits over seven innings… tallied his third win with a career-best outing, holding No. 19 Indiana to one run on three hits over eight innings in a 5-1 victory on March 28. He finished with six strikeouts against three walks.
? notched his first win of season in 5-1 victory over Cincinnati. He was perfect through three innings, striking out 7-of-10 batters to start the game, and had a no-hitter through six innings. He tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in the contest.
? finished his career with a 11-4 career record with a 3.26 ERA over 118 2/3 innings in 33 appearances, including 21 starts. He had 86 strikeouts against 65 walks.
? focused solely on pitching for the first time in his baseball career in 2015 after transitioning to the mound midway through 2014 season.
? pitched in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2014, posting a 3-4 record with a 4.91 ERA in nine starts.
JUNIOR Calvin Mathews…
? was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, the first honor of his career.
? was Iowa’s Sunday starter. He went 5-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts). Mathews didn’t allow an earned run in his first five starts and allowed 20 earned runs in 15 starts.
? didn’t allow more than five hits in any of his first eight starts and has allowed five or fewer hits in 12-of-15 starts.
? pitched six strong innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits in NCAA Regional play against Oregon… had three strikeouts and zero walks in a no-decision.
? notched his second straight win, allowing one run on seven hits over five innings against Minnesota (5/10)… threw six shutout innings en route to his fourth win, limiting Michigan to three hits May 3 in a 2-0 win.
? limited No. 25 Nebraska to two runs (one earned) on three hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision… held No. 16 Maryland to one run on four hits over five innings in a no-decision on April 12… threw a season-high six innings to tally his third victory, allowing one run on five hits with five strikeouts at Purdue (4/5).
? was 1-of-5 pitchers to combine for a 13-inning shutout in Iowa’s 5-0 victory over Cincinnati on March 1. He scattered three hits over five innings and had five strikeouts.
? is 10-11 with a 3.09 ERA in 39 appearances (35 starts). He has logged 186 1/3 innings, allowing 164 hits, striking out 130 strikeouts to 57 walks.
IN-SEASON HONORS
? Senior Nick Hibbing was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on May 12 after throwing four shutout innings to pick up the save in Iowa’s 7-1 win over Minnesota.
? Junior Jimmy Frankos was named the Big Ten Co-Player of the Week on April 27 after hitting .545 (6-for-11) with three RBIs and two runs in leading Iowa to a 4-0 week. Frankos had a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning in the Hawkeyes’ win over Nebraska.
? Senior Eric Toole was selected as the Big Ten Player of the Week — his first career honor — on March 31 after hitting .500 and posting a .529 on-base and .563 slugging percentage in a 3-1 week. Toole scored four runs and had two RBIs.
? Junior Tyler Peyton was tabbed as the Big Ten Player of the Week by College Sports Madness on March 31 after tossing a complete game shutout in Iowa’s 2-0 victory over No. 19 Indiana. Peyton also hit .353 with three RBIs and scored twice in four games. Peyton was also named a CB360 Week 7 Primetime Performer.
? Freshman Austin Guzzo was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Feb. 16 after having a strong collegiate debut in Iowa’s 4-1 win over George Mason. The Canadian went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI and caught a pitching staff that limited the Patriots to four hits. He is the first Hawkeye to earn the honor since Sasha Kuebel in 2012.
#HELLERBALL
? UI head coach Rick Heller is one of nine coaches all-time (one of five active) to lead three different NCAA Division I teams to regional play.
? The Hawkeyes debuted in the national rankings on March 30, coming in at No. 24 by Collegiate Baseball. It was Iowa’s first ranking since 1990. Iowa was the final nine weeks of the regular season before finishing the year ranked No. 20 by Collegiate Baseball, 25th by Baseball America, and 28th by the NCBWA.
? Iowa finished as the runner-up in Big Ten play, winning 19 games during the regular season — the most for the program since 1990.
? The Hawkeyes won 41 games — the second-most in a single season in school history. It was Iowa’s fourth 40-win season in program history.
? Heller is the winningest coach in his first two seasons in program history, winning 71 games. Iowa has posted back-to-back 30 win seasons for the first time since 1989 and 1990.
? Iowa climbed to as high as No. 13 — its highest ranking since 1990 — on May 12 by Collegiate Baseball.
? Iowa had a school-record six All-Big Ten selections in 2015. The Hawkeyes have had 11 All-Big Ten honorees in two seasons under Heller.
? Iowa posted its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2012 and swept a ranked opponent (No. 19 Indiana) for the first time since 1990. The Hawkeyes also swept No. 25 Nebraska, winning its second straight series over the Huskers.
? Iowa won 2-of-3 games at Michigan — its first series win over the Wolverines since 2010. The Hawkeyes won a school record eight straight Big Ten series (dating back to the 2014 season).
? The Hawkeyes opened Big Ten play with consecutive sweeps, starting 6-0 for the first time in school history. Iowa went 8-1 in Big Ten play for first time since 1990.
? Iowa won 30 games in Heller’s first season in 2014 — the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history and the third 30-win campaign since 1993.
? The Hawkeyes advanced to and won a game in the Big Ten Tournament in 2014 — the program’s first tournament victory since 2010.
? Iowa has posted winning streaks of nine games (in 2015) and seven games (in 2014) — the longest streaks for the program since 2012.
? Under Heller, Duane Banks Field has been undergoing a transformation with AstroTurf installed in the infield and outfield, new outfield fences and the addition of a new video scoreboard.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
? Of Iowa’s 35-man roster, 23 were upperclassmen. The Hawkeyes roster featured seven freshman, five sophomores, 14 juniors, and nine seniors.
? Iowa had 17 native Iowans on the 2015 roster — the most of any state. Eleven players hailed from Illinois.
? The Hawkeyes’ roster included players ranging from California to Florida to Canada to North Carolina.
IOWA SIGNS TOP CLASS IN THE B1G
The Hawkeyes 13-player class of 2016 is ranked as the best recruiting class in the Big Ten and the 40th-best nationally by Perfect Game. The class consists of Cole Baker (6-4, 215, RHP, Grimes Iowa/Dallas Center Grimes), Mitch Boe (5-10, 160, IF, Naperville, Ill./Joilet Catholic), Chris Comito, Jr. (6-5, 220, RHP, Norwalk, Iowa/Norwalk), Zach Daniels (5-11, 150, RHP/IF, Robins, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Kennedy), Dametri Evans (6-0, 205, C, Hemet, Calif./Tahquitz), Luke Farley (6-1, 190, OF, Denver, Iowa/Waterloo Columbus), Zach Fricke (5-11, 200, C/RHP, Waterloo, Iowa/NIACC), Mason McCoy (6-0, 170, IF, Washington, Ill./Illinois Central CC), Cole McDonald (6-0, 175, RHP, New Hampton, Iowa/New Hampton), Robert Neustrom (6-3, 195, OF, Sioux City, Iowa/Sioux City North), Daniel Perry (6-2, 180, IF, Susanville, Calif./Lassen), Shane Ritter (6-3, 180, RHP, Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield South), and Kyle Shimp (6-6, 200, LHP, Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville).
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