Iowa Hawkeyes: Iowa Baseball big series win vs. UC Irvine taking 2/3

Rick Heller’s Iowa Hawkeyes took advantage of a big opportunity and got a big series win vs the UC Irvine Anteaters this weekend. Here’s the full recap.

This weekend, the Iowa Hawkeyes got a much-needed series win. With tournament hopes at stake, they take 2 of 3 from top 25 UC Irvine Anteaters. Here is a recap of this weekends games and what is to come for the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team.

Friday night under the lights at Duane Banks field was a success. The Iowa Hawkeyes would take game one from the Anteaters 6-3. Iowa got another great pitching outing from senior, Cole McDonald. McDonald went 7.0 innings giving up 5 hits, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts and just two walks. Sophomore first baseman Izaya Fullard had a big day at the plate, slugging not one but two home runs, one a solo shot and the other a two-run shot.

Iowa turned a key double play in the fourth. The Anteaters had the bases loaded and the double play left UC Irvine with no run to show for their efforts. UC Irvine did add 3 runs in the final 3 innings. Junior pitcher Trace Hoffman came on for the save to close out the win for Iowa Baseball.

Game number two was tightly contested in front of a sold out crowd at Duane Banks field. The Iowa Hawkeyes won the game 1-0. Iowa would get another excellent pitching in this one starting with the lefty sophomore Cam Bauman going 5.0 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, and 0 runs. Iowa’s lone run came off an RBI single from shortstop Tanner Wetrich scoring Lorenzo Eilon. Closer Grant Leonard got the six out save to secure the win and the series.

The series finale wasn’t so kind to the Iowa Hawkeyes as they lost 15-4 to the Anteaters. Iowa got off to a good start with outfielder Ben Norman tripling down the third base line scoring Whelan, but Izaya Fullard was thrown out at the plate. Iowa led 1-0 after the first, but it would be all Anteaters from there.

Junior Grant Judkins was on the hill for the Hawks, but he didn’t last long. Judkins only went 4.0 innings giving up 6 hits, 3 strikeouts, and 2 earned runs. The Anteaters got a big spark in the 5th inning as they scored 9 runs to put the game out of reach and to help UC Irvine salvage the finale.

What’s up next for the Iowa Baseball team after getting a big non-conference series win?

Yes, getting the sweep would have been nice but taking 2 out of 3 was much-needed. Their RPI now sits at 57th overall. This puts them firmly on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.

The Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team hits the road Tuesday to go to Western Illinois and then will be back home to face Michigan State for weekend series.