Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — March 2017
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa baseball team wraps up its 10-game home stand by hosting South Dakota State for a two-game midweek series at Duane Banks Field. Tuesday’s game is slated to begin at 4:05 p.m. (CT), while Wednesday’s game is set for 3:05 p.m.
The Hawkeyes enter the midweek series riding a season-best six-game winning streak after sweeping UNLV last weekend in Iowa City. It was the team’s first sweep of the season. Iowa won the opener, 3-0, before two late inning rallies led to 6-5 and 7-6 victories.
Iowa is 8-2 over its last 10 games to move its record to a season-best eight games over .500. The Hawkeyes are hitting .279 during the stretch and are averaging 6.2 runs per game. Junior Jake Adams has a .378 average with five home runs and 14 RBIs in the 10 games.
Sophomore Robert Neustrom leads the team with a .361 batting average — the fourth-highest mark in the Big Ten. Adams is hitting .343 and leads the Big Ten with 34 RBIs. His 10 home runs are second-most in the conference.
South Dakota State brings a 13-10 record into the series, which includes a four-game winning streak. The Jackrabbits swept IPFW last weekend in Brookings 1-0, 12-2, and 10-6.
The Jackrabbits have five players hitting over .300 on the year, led by Philip Jacobson and Matt Johnson, who are both hitting .345. Newt Johnson leads the team with 19 RBIs.
Iowa senior Drake Robison will make his fifth start — first midweek start — of the season. The Machesney Park, Illinois, native is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in eight appearances. Robison earned his lone win against Lehigh on March 12, scattering six hits over six innings, but he gave up five earned runs. He had nine strikeouts without a walk in the outing.
South Dakota State will counter with freshman RHP Hunter Even. The Chanhassen, Minnesota, native is 1-0 with a 10.50 ERA in two appearances this season.
The Hawkeyes are 7-3 all-time against South Dakota State, which includes a three-game series sweep in 2014 during UI head coach Rick Heller’s first season. The Jackrabbits’ last win over Iowa came in 2011.
Iowa is 4-0 in midweek games this season, running its midweek winning streak to 18 consecutive games dating back to the 2015 season. The Hawkeyes are hitting .297 as a team and averaging 9.5 runs per game this season, while the pitching staff has a 3.25 team ERA with 52 strikeouts in 36 innings.
Both games will be streamed online via BTN Plus on BTN2Go. The game will also be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network/Hawkeye All-Access with Zach Mackey on the call.
Following the midweek series, the Hawkeyes return to Big Ten play in Evanston, Illinois, facing Northwestern for a three-game series from April 7-9
