IOWA CITY, Iowa – Redshirt sophomore Peyton Williams hit for the cycle to lead the University of Iowa baseball team to a 15-8 victory over Bradley on Tuesday night at Duane Banks Field.
Williams finished the game 5-for-5 with five RBIs and four runs scored and he reached base in all six plate appearances. The Johnston, Iowa, native doubled in the first, singled in the third, homered in the fourth, was hit by a pitch in the sixth, doubled again in the seventh and tripled down the right field line in the eighth.
The five hits are a career high and tie the program’s single game record. The cycle is the first by a Hawkeye since Lorenzo Elion in 2018. Williams’ four runs and five RBIs are also career highs and the triple was the third of his career.
“It was good to hit the ball hard, that’s the main thing I am trying to do right now,” said Williams. “Even if I get out, I am trying to hit the ball hard and let the game play out that way.”
Iowa finished the game with 15 runs on 15 hits with six different players tallying multi-hit games. Redshirt junior Will Mulflur was 3-for-5 with a double, home run and three RBIs. The Washington native now has nine hits over his last six games.
The win is the Hawkeyes’ season-best fifth straight and it completes the season sweep of the Braves. Iowa moves to 21-12 overall heading into a three-game series at No. 8 Rutgers this weekend in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Trailing 3-1 through 2 1/2 innings, Iowa put up a four spot in the third to take control of the game. Redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony doubled in Williams to cut the deficit to 3-2 and redshirt senior Izaya Fullard drew a one-out walk.
Mulflur stepped to the plate and connected on an 0-1 pitch for a three-run jack to left field, giving the Hawkeyes a 5-3 lead. Williams joined the home run party in the fourth, hammering a ball 410 feet with a 112 mph exit velocity to extend the lead to 6-3.
Iowa put the game away in the seventh, scoring six runs on three hits and two Bradley errors. Williams had a three-run double in the inning and Sam Petersen and Kyle Huckstorf had RBIs.
On the mound, nine Hawkeyes saw action, allowing eight runs on seven hits. Freshman Chas Wheatley earned his first career win, allowing one hit but getting an inning-ending double play in the fourth.
QUOTING COACH HELLER
“I am happy with our approach offensively. We took what they gave us and we delivered. It was a big night by Peyton Williams and Will Mulflur. We didn’t throw a lot of at-bats away, but for the most part we put pressure on them and each inning we answered each inning and played great defense. It was a good night on those two fronts.”
OF NOTE…
– Iowa scored six runs in the seventh inning. The Hawkeyes have scored 14 runs in the seventh inning in their last two games.
– The Hawkeyes hit two home runs, giving them six two homer contests over the last 10 games.
– Anthony returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games and finished 2-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI. It was hit team-leading 16th double.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to the East Coast to face No. 8 Rutgers for a three-game Big Ten series from April 22-24. The Scarlet Knights are 31-6 overall and are currently riding a 16-game winning streak.