LINCOLN, Neb. – The Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team was swept in a three-game road series by No. 25 Nebraska over the weekend at Hawks Field at Haymarket Park, falling 10-0 Friday, 15-11 Saturday and 8-6 Sunday.
Nebraska controlled the series opener Friday night, shutting out Iowa 10-0 in eight innings. The Cornhuskers scored first with an RBI double in the second inning, added another run in the third and continued to build the lead with a run in the fifth and a two-run home run in the sixth. Nebraska broke the game open with three runs in the seventh before ending the game in the eighth with back-to-back solo home runs.
Sophomore Tyler Guerin started on the mound for Iowa and threw four innings. Redshirt freshman Kyle Alivo worked two innings in relief and struck out four. Freshman Nick Terhaar and redshirt freshman Ty Mikkelsen also pitched for the Hawkeyes.
Saturday’s game was a much different contest, but Iowa still came up short in a 15-11 loss. Nebraska jumped ahead 7-0 after scoring in the second, third and fourth innings, but the Hawkeyes battled back.
“It was a painful loss but I’m proud of our guy’s effort,” Iowa head coach Rick Heller said. “Being down seven and fighting back to take the lead in the eighth was great to see. Our guys fought today. We had so many guys clutch up for us. Unfortunately, we weren’t our best on the mound and it cost us.”
Iowa began its comeback with solo home runs from Jaixen Frost in the fifth inning and Miles Risley in the sixth. The Hawkeyes then scored four runs in the seventh, getting RBI hits from Mitch Wood and Gable Mitchell and another run on a passed ball to cut the deficit to one.
After Nebraska added a run in the bottom of the seventh, Iowa took the lead with a five-run eighth. Ben Swails hit a two-run home run to tie the game, Kooper Schulte followed with an RBI single, Risley doubled in another run and Caleb Wulf added a bunt single to give Iowa an 11-8 lead.
Nebraska answered with seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to retake control and secure the win.
Senior Maddux Frese started for Iowa and allowed five runs on six hits in three innings. Joe Husak was charged with the loss after allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings.
The Hawkeyes again had chances in Sunday’s finale but fell 8-6. Iowa struck first when Schulte opened the game with a solo home run. Wulf later singled home Mitchell to give the Hawkeyes a 2-0 lead.
Nebraska responded with one run in the first inning, two in the second and two more in the third to take a 5-2 lead.
Iowa tied the game in the fifth inning. Frost was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Swails followed with a two-run single up the middle. Nebraska regained control with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Schulte hit his second home run of the game in the eighth to cut the deficit to two, but the Hawkeyes could not complete the comeback.
“We had our chances today but had some bad at-bats in the fourth and seventh innings when we had them on the ropes,” Heller said. “After scoring two in the first, we allowed five runs over the first three innings. Jaron Bleeker pitched as well as he has all year. A defensive miscue kept the seventh alive for them, and Carey delivered the double. Kooper Schulte had a great day, homering to lead off the game and again in the eighth.”
Graduate student Logan Runde started Sunday’s game for Iowa, throwing 1 1/3 innings. Cole Moore pitched one inning in relief, and Jaron Bleeker finished the game with 5 1/3 innings, striking out five.
“As bad as it feels to get swept, I felt we competed hard,” Heller said. “Nebraska had a great weekend offensively. It seemed like every ball they hit found a hole, and when we gave them opportunities, they made us pay. That’s what good teams do. We will regroup, take our finals this week, and head to Des Moines to take on a very good Purdue team.”
Iowa will next face Purdue in its final series in Des Moines at Principal Park. Friday’s first pitch is set for 6:32 p.m.