OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 2 seeded University of Iowa Baseball team overcame a 4-1 deficit to defeat No. 2 seed Indiana, 9-4, at Charles Schwab Field to advance to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournaments.
“I was really pleased with how the guys executed our plan,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Sinnard is a tough pitcher with a full arsenal, and we started pressing early on against him, but Marty was able to get the guys dialed back in to have quality at bats.”
Brody Brecht got the start for Iowa. He threw 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs and striking out five before the Hawkeyes went to their bullpen. Jared Simpson threw an inning and allowed one run.
Will Christophersen threw 2 1/3 innings striking out six to earn his fourth win of the season. Jack Whitlock threw the final inning, not allowing a hit to close out the victory.
“Brody gave us enough to be able to help us protect our bullpen,” said Heller. “We were planning on saving Will for the eighth and the ninth, but we felt like that was a big leverage situation in the game and decided to go with him then, and we are glad that we did.”
Sam Petersen was 2-for-5 with a three-run home run, and Kyle Huckstorf was 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the Hawkeyes. Sam Hojnar and Ben Wilmes each tallied an RBI as well.
“After seeing Sinnard for six innings we knew getting into the bullpen anything was going to look a little better,” said Heller. “It was a rough day to score at the ballpark with the wind really blowing in hard. Petersen’s ball getting out, that was a big boy home run.”
The Hawkeyes out hit the Hoosiers, 11-5, but left 12 runners on base to Indiana’s seven.
OF NOTE
– Iowa moves to 41-13 on the season.
– The Hawkeyes’ 41 wins are tied for second most in program history.
– This will be the Hawkeyes third Big Ten Tournament semifinal appearance in the last six seasons.
– Kyle Huckstof has 17 career RBIs in seven games against Indiana.
– The Hawkeyes are 25-1 when scoring 9+ runs this season.
– Every starter recorded a hit in today’s game.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes face the winner of No. 2 Indiana and No. 6 Michigan at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
