IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team will travel to Peoria, Illinois, to face Bradley on Wednesday at Dozer Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (CT) and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Hawkeyes have won seven of their last 10 games, including two straight series, to improve to 14-10 overall. Iowa won two of three games last weekend in their Big Ten opener at Michigan.
Bradley brings an 8-14 overall record and 1-2 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play into Wednesday’s game. The Braves lost two of three games at Southern Illinois last weekend in Carbondale.
Iowa will send southpaw Cam Baumann to the mound for his second start. The Fairfield, Iowa, native is 0-0 with a 1.59 ERA in five appearances, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. Baumann has nine strikeouts against seven walks.
The Braves will counter with left-handed pitcher Troy Hickey, who is 0-1 with a 11.65 ERA in seven appearance (one start). Hickey has allowed 25 runs (22 earned) on 22 hits and has 19 strikeout to 18 walks over 17 innings.
The Hawkeyes are hitting .267 as a team and are averaging 5.4 runs per game. Redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony and redshirt sophomore Peyton Williams are both hitting above .350.
Anthony, who earned his third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor on Tuesday, leads the team with a .364 average and is tops on the squad in doubles (12), RBIs (21) and walks (13). Williams has a .356 average with team-highs in runs (21), home runs (5), total bases (58), slugging (.644) and on-base percentage (.458).
Iowa’s pitching staff has been superb, allowing just 142 hits and striking out 300 over 212 1/3 innings. The Hawkeyes are leading the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (12.7) and are second in hits allowed per nine innings (6.1).
Bradley has a .299 team batting average and average seven runs game. The Braves have four regulars hitting over .300 with Connor O’Brien hitting a team-best .398 with eight doubles, five home runs and 25 RBIs. O’Brien is fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference in batting average.
The Braves have a 6.66 team ERA, allowing 200 hits over 182 1/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .277 against the staff.
Wednesday’s game will be streamed online via ESPN+ and it will be available on the Hawkeye Radio Network with Zach Mackey on the call.
Following the midweek contest, the Hawkeyes return to Duane Banks Field for a three-game Big Ten series against Illinois. Friday’s first pitch has been moved up to a 4:05 p.m. (CT) start.
