WELCOME BACK PATTY
Redshirt senior Izaya Fullard, a.k.a. Meat Patty, is hitting .321 (27-of-84) in the 22 games since returning to the starting lineup after missing the first six weeks of the season after breaking his hamate bone.
• The North Liberty, Iowa, native has hit safely in 15 of the 22 games with 10 multi-hit games and he has reached base in 21 of the 22 contests.
• Fullard went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBIs in the series-opening win at No. 8 Rutgers and he had a season-high three hits, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the series finale.
• Fullard was the Iowa offense in a 1-0 victory at Nebraska, as he hit a solo home run in the fourth inning that proved to be the difference. It was his second blast of the year.
IOWA’S BIG BASHER
Redshirt sophomore Peyton Williams has hit safely in all but 11 games this season and he has 17 multi-hit games, which are second-most on the team, including one five hit and three four-hit contests.
• Williams went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer at San Diego State on March 15 and he had a career game April 19 against Bradley, finishing 5-for-5 with five RBIs and four runs scored. He became the first Hawkeye to hit for the cycle since 2018, which led to him being named the Big Ten Player of the Week on April 27.
• On the year, Williams is hitting .370 (61-of-165) with 43 runs and 33 RBIs. The Johnston, Iowa, native has 28 extra-base hits, including 16 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs.
• The Hawkeye slugger has 29 walks and just 25 strikeouts in 165 at-bats.
• Williams is third in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.573) and OPS (1.161), fifth in on-base percentage (.488), tied for fifth in doubles (16) and seventh in batting average (.370).
• Williams is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs, including a 422-foot blast with a 110 mph exit velocity against Washington State at the Frisco Classic and a 410 foot shot with a 112 mph exit velocity against Bradley. His 10th homer at Nebraska left the stadium at Haymarket Park.
• Williams has matched Ben Norman’s 10 home runs from the 2021 season.
OUR GEORGIA PEACH
Redshirt freshman Keaton Anthony is posting impressive numbers in his first season of collegiate baseball. The outfielder, who has been honored a school record five times as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season, is hitting .352 (56-of-159) with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 44 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
• The Georgia native has hit safely in 34 games and reached safely in 39 contests this season. He has 18 multi-hit games, which are leading the team.
• Anthony is third in the Big Ten in doubles (18) — a figure that ranks 32nd nationally — while ranking fifth in OPS (1.088), sixth in slugging (.654) and 10th in batting average (.352).
• Eight of Anthony’s 10 home runs have come in his last 14 games. He hit a three-run blast in Iowa’s 16-2 road win at Milwaukee on April 12, hit a two-run homer in the series opener against Minnesota (4/15) and homered in back-to-back games in the series win over Purdue (5/7-8).
• Anthony’s 10 home runs are the most by a Hawkeye freshman since Brad Carlson hit 21 in 1999.
• Anthony had a career day in his third career game in Iowa’s 11-1 victory over Ball State on Feb. 19, going 4-for-4 with two doubles, two home runs, four runs and five RBIs.
• Anthony has earned five Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors — Feb. 23, March 16, April 5, April 19 and May 11. They are the most weekly honors in a single season in program history (Jake Adams earned three Big Ten Player of the Week honors in 2017).
STANDING TALL AT THE DISH
Redshirt sophomore Ben Tallman has taken over as Iowa’s primary catcher. The Montana native is hitting .256 (20-of-78) with 11 RBIs and 14 runs scored in 32 games.
• Tallman hit a towering 458-foot home run in the series finale against Illinois to kick start a hot streak. He followed with four straight multi-hit games.
• The catcher had the game-winning RBI single in Iowa’s 2-1 win over Minnesota on April 16 and the game-tying single in the come-from-behind win on April 17 to secure the sweep.
MAZUR ON THE MOUND
Redshirt sophomore Adam Mazur is Iowa’s staff ace, posting a 6-2 with a 2.37 ERA with 82 strikeouts over 79.2 innings. He has seven or more strikeouts in six starts.
• The right-hander started the first six weeks on Friday before making two Saturday starts. Mazur returned to Friday on April 15 against Minnesota.
• Mazur is 4-0 with a 1.13 ERA with 40 strikeouts to five walks over his last five starts. He has logged 39 2/3 innings in the five outings. He has gone at least eight innings in four consecutive starts.
• Mazur pitched 24 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings against Rutgers, Nebraska and Purdue. It was the longest stretch by a Hawkeye since Tyler Peyton’s 26 1/3 shutout frames during the 2016 season.
• In Big Ten play, Mazur is 4-1 with a conference-best 1.35 ERA, striking out 44 in 46 2/3 innings. He has allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 25 hits over 46 2/3 innings.
• He posted his fifth straight quality start against Purdue, allowing two runs on five hits over 8 2/3 innings. Mazur surrendered a two-run single with two outs in the top of the ninth.
• Mazur was marvelous at Nebraska on April 29, tossing a two-hit, complete game shutout in a 1-0 victory. He fanned six and walked two in the first complete game shutout since Tyler Peyton in 2016 (vs. Penn State).
• It came on the heels of back-to-back starts where he went eight innings in wins over Minnesota (April 15) and at No. 8 Rutgers (April 22). He allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and fanned 11 (without walking a batter) against the Gophers and he retired 21 of the final 24 batters he faced.
• He followed it up with another eight-inning outing at No. 8 Rutgers, allowing one run on six hits and fanning 11 without walking a batter in a 4-1 victory.
• Mazur was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 23 and March 2. He is the first Hawkeye pitcher to earn the distinction in consecutive weeks.
• The right-hander went six innings, allowing one run — a solo home run — over six innings in his debut against Air Force before retiring the final 16 batters he faced on Feb. 18.
• He logged 7 2/3 innings against Pepperdine on Feb. 25, allowing zero runs on three hits and fanning nine. He retired 10 straight at one point in the contest.
• Mazur carried a no-hitter into the sixth against Wichita State on March 4 (before taking a line drive off the hip) and he retired 15 straight batters at one point.
• Mazur, who has eight quality starts this season, has four streaks of 10 or more consecutive batters retired this season.
• Mazur has five games this season where he has fanned nine or more batters (9 vs. Air Force, 9 vs. Pepperdine, 9 vs. Illinois, 11 vs. Minnesota, 11 at No. 8 Rutgers).
• The Minnesota is leading the Big Ten in ERA (2.37) and batting average against (.154), is second in innings (79.2), third in strikeouts (82), tied for fourth in wins (6), tied for fifth in fewest earned runs allowed (21), seventh in fewest hits allowed (43), tied for eighth in fewest runs (26) and tied for ninth in strikeouts looking (18).
• In league games, Mazur is tops in the Big Ten in ERA (1.35), innings (46.2), wins (4), batting average against (.154), fewest runs (9) and earned runs allowed (7). He is also third in strikeouts (44) and tied for fifth in strikeouts looking (11).
• Mazur is second nationally, allowing just 4.86 hits per nine innings and his 0.83 WHIP ranks ninth in the NCAA.
SATURDAY SCHULTZ
Graduate transfer Connor Schultz returned to the starting rotation on April 16 against Minnesota. In the two starts since, the Cedar Falls, Iowa, native is 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA.
• Schultz dissected No. 8 Rutgers in his April 23 start, scattering two hits, walking one and fanning six over eight shutout innings. He retired 24 of the 27 batters he faced and needed just 85 pitches to shut down the high-powered Scarlet Knight offense. Schultz earned Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors on April 27 for his efforts.
• In his two subsequent starts, Schultz has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits over five innings in losses against Nebraska and Purdue.
• On the year, Schultz is 2-2 with a 4.38 ERA over 12 appearances, including seven starts. .
• In Big Ten play, Schultz is limiting hitters to a .224 batting average, which ranks 10th in the league.
SUNDAY LANGENBERG
Sophomore Ty Langenberg has settled into weekend rotation as Iowa’s Sunday starter. He has made nine straight Sunday starts. The Urbandale, Iowa, native is 5-1 with a 3.16 ERA, giving up just 19 runs on 48 hits over 51 1/3 innings. Langenberg has 64 strikeouts to 15 walks on the year.
• In his last two starts, Langenberg is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA, where he has allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits over 12 innings with 13 strikeouts to two walks.
• Langenberg earned his fifth win, tossing a career-long seven innings in the series-clinching win over Purdue on May 8. He allowed one run on five hits and fanned seven en route to being named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on May 11.
• Langenberg’s fourth win came after tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings at Michigan on April 3. He scattered five hits and had a career-high 11 strikeouts.
• He had 34 strikeouts (10 vs. Texas Tech, 7 vs. Central Michigan, 11 at Michigan, 6 vs. Illinois) in four starts from March 20-April 10. He has eight or more Ks in three appearances this season.
ONE OF THE B1G’s BEST
The Hawkeye pitching staff has been superb this season as Iowa leads the Big Ten in ERA (3.50), strikeouts (507), batting average against (.200), fewest hits allowed (283), fewest runs allowed (188) and fewest earned runs allowed (153).
• The Hawkeyes have given up just 283 hits over 393 1/3 innings with just 81 going for extra bases.
• Iowa is second in the nation, striking out 11.6 batters, second in hits allowed per nine innings at 6.48, ninth in ERA (3.50) and 10th in WHIP (1.24).
• Iowa’s starting pitchers are 16-8 with a 3.70 ERA, fanning 228 over 199 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .206.
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
Iowa’s pitching staff has the top four strikeout games (and six of the top 10) in the Big Ten this season. The Hawkeyes fanned 22 in the 13-inning contest against Illinois on April 9, 20 against Ball State on Feb. 19 and 20 against San Diego State on March 15. The 22 punch outs are tied for the 10th-most in a single game in the nation this season.
• The Hawkeyes also fanned 19 on March 2 in an 8-0 victory over Cornell College and 17 against Bradley on April 6.
• Iowa has 10 or more strikeouts in 30 games this season, including eight games with 16 or more strikeouts.
• The Hawkeyes have 507 strikeouts over 44 games, which has broken the previous school record of 499, set in 2018.
LIMITING 1Bs
• The Hawkeyes have allowed five or fewer hits in 20 games this season.
• Iowa posted a one-hitter against Air Force on Feb. 18 — the first for the program since 2019 (vs. Simpson, 7-2 win).
• Iowa has seven games, allowing three or fewer hits this season. The Hawkeyes have five games allowing two or fewer hits.
THE MEN IN RELIEF
• The Hawkeyes have six different relievers that have tallied at least one save this season. Iowa is tied for fourth in the Big Ten with 13 saves.
• Senior Ben Beutel notched his third save in the series opening win over Purdue on May 6. The southpaw is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA in a team-high 22 appearances this season. Beutel has allowed five runs (four earned) on 13 hits over 20 2/3 innings where he has 28 strikeouts to two walks.
• Beutel hasn’t allowed a run in 18 of his 22 appearances and he has made multiple weekend appearances six times this season.
• Freshman Brody Brecht has 23 strikeouts and has allowed just one earned run (on five hits) over his last nine appearances, spanning 13 1/3 innings, giving him 42 Ks over 22 innings this season. He is 1-3 with a 2.45 ERA in 15 appearances and he has given up just one extra base hit.
• Redshirt junior Duncan Davitt is 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA in 14 appearances as a swing reliever. He has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 19 hits and has 46 strikeouts (to eight walks) over 26 innings.
• Redshirt sophomore Luke Llewellyn has been named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List. The Urbandale, Iowa, native is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in 11 appearances with three saves.
• Iowa’s relievers are 12-8 with a 3.30 ERA this season, allowing 98 runs (71 earned) on 133 hits over 193 2/3 innings. The staff has 279 strikeouts to 123 walks and is limiting hitters to a .194 average.
HEAT ALERT
Freshman RHP Brody Brecht had a blazing debut in his first career appearance at Duane Banks Field. The Ankeny, Iowa, native hit triple digits on his first three pitches, going 101, 101 and 100 in a 1-2-3 inning against Cornell College on March 2.
• Brecht has hit 100 or higher on the radar gun 31 times this season (in game where Trackman data is available).
ON THE OFFENSIVE
• The Hawkeyes have scored 263 runs in 44 games, averaging 6.0 runs per contest. Iowa has eight games with 10 or more runs and 17 games with 10 or more hits.
• Iowa is 19-7 when scoring first this season and 22-7 when out-hitting its opponent.
• The team is 19-3 when scoring six or more runs this season.
• The Hawkeyes are outscoring opponents, 93-66, over the first three innings and 74-60 over the final three innings (including extras).
HAWKEYE SPARKS
• Freshman Ben Wilmes started all three games in left field against Purdue, where he hit safely in two of the three games. The Johnston, Iowa, native had two RBIs in the two Hawkeye victories in games one and three.
• Sophomore Cade Moss hit safely in two of the three games against Purdue. He had his first extra base hit and drove in two in game two before finishing 2-for-3 with a double and RBI in the series finale. It was his first career multi-hit game.
FRONTLINE TRANSFERS
Iowa added a pair of Friday night starters to the 2022 roster as transfers in RHP Adam Mazur (South Dakota State) and RHP Connor Schultz (Butler).
• Mazur, who was tabbed as a first-team All-Big Ten selection by Perfect Game, went 3-9 with a 5.50 ERA in 16 starts in two seasons with the Jackrabbits. The Minnesota native had a breakout season in the Cape Cod League, going 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA in six starts en route to Cape Cod All-League honors.
• Mazur is rated as the No. 89 player on MLB.com’s top-100 draft prospects, while being the No. 2 draft prospect in Big Ten and No. 61 nationally by D1Baseball.com.
• Schultz is a graduate pitcher from Butler University where he went 13-9 with a 3.79 ERA in four collegiate seasons. The Cedar Falls, Iowa, native was a first-team All-Big East selection in 2019 and was the Big East Preseason Pitcher of the Year in 2020. Schultz battled hip injuries in each of the past two seasons.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
• The Spartans bring a 22-25 overall and 6-12 Big Ten record into the weekend. Michigan State has dropped six of its last seven series, including being swept last weekend at Penn State, while being outscored, 35-16.
• Michigan State is hitting .273 as a team with three regulars hitting over .300. Mitch Jebb leads the team with a .349 average with 67 hits, including nine doubles, two triples, six home runs, 32 runs and 46 RBIs.
• The Spartan pitching staff has a 5.92 team ERA, allowing 472 hits over 410 2/3 innings. Michigan State has 344 strikeouts in 47 games and has issued 206 walks.
SERIES RECORDS
• The Spartans lead the all-time series over Iowa, 80-69-1.
• Iowa has won three of the last four series over Michigan State, including sweeping the series last season in East Lansing. The Hawkeyes outscored the Spartans, 30-8, in the sweep during the final series of the season.
TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Cam Baumann, Brett McCleary and Nedved, redshirt junior Brendan Sher and redshirt sophomores Brayden Frazier and Ty Snep were voted team captains for the 2022 season.
DON’T COUNT ‘EM OUT
The Hawkeyes have overcome deficits to win 73 games since the start of the 2017 season and posted 15 walk-offs. Thirty-four of those victories have come with Iowa trailing or being tied entering or through seven innings. Twenty have come in the final at-bat.
• Iowa has overcome deficits in 15 games this season, winning 11 of those contests.
#HELLERBALL
• Head coach Rick Heller recorded his 900th career win against Grand View in a 15-2 victory on March 3, 2020, at Duane Banks Field. The Iowa native won his 950th career game on April 17, 2022, against Minnesota.
• Heller is one of nine coaches all-time to lead three different NCAA Division I teams to regional play.
• The Hawkeyes won 30 or more games in each of Heller’s six full seasons as the helm of the program. It’s a first for the team since winning 30 or more in seven straight seasons from 1979-85.
• Heller has led the Hawkeyes to two NCAA Regional appearances; the program had three regional appearances in its history prior to his arrival.
• Heller is third in school history in career wins with 268 at Iowa, including the second (41) and fifth-most (39) in school history.
• Heller led Iowa to its first Big Ten Tournament title in 2017 — the first conference title since 1990 — and he guided the Hawkeyes to the Big Ten Tournament title game in consecutive seasons. Iowa has advanced to the league tournament in six straight years for the first time in program history.
• Heller has coached at least one first-team All-Big Ten selection in six of his first eight seasons, and has 23 Major League Baseball Draft picks in eight seasons.
• Iowa had a school-record six All-Big Ten selections in 2015 and five in 2017. The Hawkeyes have had 26 All-Big Ten honorees in eight seasons under Heller.
• Iowa has posted winning streaks of nine games (in 2015) and eight games (in 2017) — the longest streaks for the program since 2012.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
Iowa baseball fans can follow the Hawkeyes on Facebook @iowabaseball, Twitter @UIBaseball, and Instagram @UIBaseball in addition to coverage on hawkeyesports.com.
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