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Hawkeyes split doubleheader with Minnesota

On3 imageby: Kyle Huesmann04/15/23HuesmannKyle

Coming into the weekend, the Iowa Baseball team was hoping that they could travel to Minneapolis and gain some momentum in Big Ten play. Through two weeks, the Hawkeyes sat in ninth place with a 2-4 record. They had won all six matchups against Minnesota over the last two seasons, but the Gophers came into Friday having won six of their last ten games. Head Coach Rick Heller called them a dangerous team and his team found that out in the first game of the doubleheader.

Game One- Minnesota 12 Iowa 3

Through four innings, the Hawkeyes were in control. They got on the board first in the third inning with a Keaton Anthony solo home run and a Kyle Huckstorf two-run triple in front of a diving Kris Hokenson in right field. Brody Brecht retired 12 of the first 15 Gophers that he faced with a couple of strikeouts. Heading to the bottom of the fifth inning, Iowa led 3-0.

The bottom of the fifth was when things unraveled for Rick Heller’s squad. For the first time in a while, Brody Brecht struggled on the mound. An RBI double from Riley Swenson cut into the Iowa advantage, while a bases loaded walk issued to Jake Perry made it 3-2 and marked the end of the day for Brecht. Five of the six batters he faced in the fifth inning reached base, including three walks.

“After a good start and a three-run lead going into the fifth in game one, the wheels fell off,” said Coach Heller. “We struggled on the mound after that, and the Gophers made us pay. We were behind in the count all day and gave them a bunch of free bases.” 

Jacob Henderson came on in relief, but Minnesota was able to take the lead. Weber Neels delivered a two-run single, followed by an Ike Mezzenga RBI single to make it 5-2 Gophers. The Hawkeyes were forced to go to the bullpen again with Zach Voelker. Brady Counsell added a two-run double to cap off a seven-run inning.

While things unraveled on the mound, the Iowa offense weren’t able to get anything going at the plate. They got just three runners on base over the last five innings of the game. Tucker Novotny went 6.0 innings on the mound and struck out seven Hawkeye hitters.

The Minnesota offense, however, was not done. Ike Mezzenga added an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning, while the Gophers reached double digits with a two-run single from Brady Jurgella in the eighth to make it 11-3.

Connor Wietgrafe went 3.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen and Minnesota wrapped up a 12-3 win in the series opener. Keaton Anthony finished with two hits, while the rest of the offense was just 4/27 (.148). Minnesota was 9/21 (.429) with runners on base and 8/17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.

Game Two- Iowa 7 Minnesota 2

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Hawkeyes bounced back and it started with the offense early in the game. Three straight one out walks from Minnesota starter George Klassen set the table for Iowa. Cade Moss got the Hawkeyes on the board with a sacrifice fly.

The lead grew in the third inning. Sam Hojnar pulled an RBI single through the right side, while Brayden Frazier added a two-run double in the right center gap to make it 4-0. Klassen went just 3.0 innings and allowed four runs.

On the other end, Marcus Morgan did not have his best stuff, but was able to work through it. Weber Neels got Minnesota on the board in the third inning with an RBI single. Sam Hunt added an RBI groundout in the fourth to cut the Iowa lead to 4-2. Morgan went 5.0 innings, allowing nine baserunners, but had five strikeouts and was able to limit the Gophers damage. Most importantly, he gave the Hawkeyes a chance to win.

The Hawkeyes answered Minnesota’s runs with a two-run double from Ben Wilmes in the fifth inning to make in 6-2. Michael Seegers added a solo home run in the seventh to make it 7-2. Those runs made it a comfortable lead and the bullpen took it from there.

“Our offense took advantage of some walks and battled vs some good arms,” said Heller. “Brayden Frazier and Ben Wilmes had big two RBI hits.”

The story of the game ended up being true freshman Aaron Savary. In his first career relief outing, Savary went 3.0 scoreless innings and struck out four Gophers. He threw 63.8% of his pitches for strikes and allowed just two hits.

Luke Llewellyn came on in the ninth inning and got the games final two outs to clinch a doubleheader split for the Hawkeyes.

“We bounced back in game two behind a solid start from Marcus Morgan,” said Heller. “Aaron Savary did a nice job after Marcus and Luke Llewellyn looked good closing it out in the 9th…We played excellent defense in both games. I was proud of how our guys fought back.” 

Keaton Anthony and Ben Wilmes each had two hits on the day, while Michael Seegers reached base four times, including his solo home run.

Up next for the Hawkeyes…

With the split, Iowa moves to 24-9 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play. They finish up the series this afternoon with a 2:00pm first pitch on BTN+. Ty Langenberg will take the mound for the Hawkeyes, while it will be Richie Holetz for the Gophers.

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