Iowa Baseball Weekend Preview: Northwestern

WEEKEND SERIES: VS NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS (2-13) (13-27)

The Iowa Baseball team stumbles into the weekend with pitching troubles and injuries plaguing them. The Hawkeyes will be without outfielders Sam Petersen (lower leg) and Kyle Huckstorf (hand), while weekend starter Cade Obermueller (undisclosed) is doubtful to make a start. Last weekend, Iowa lost the first two games in Lincoln, but avoided getting swept, picking up a 4-1 win in the series finale. On Tuesday, they earned a come from behind win against Illinois State, but followed it up with a disappointing 21-14 loss to North Dakota State on Wednesday.

The Northwestern Wildcats enter the weekend with a 13-27 overall record and are in last place in the Big Ten with a 2-13 record. The ‘Cats have won just nine of their 33 weekend games, including getting swept in four of their five Big Ten series. In 15 conference games, Northwestern has gotten outscored 125-75, including five games where they allowed 10+ runs. In their midweek matchup at Illinois-Chicago, the Wildcats lost 3-2.

Northwestern Last 10 Games (2-8)

April 13-14 vs Maryland: W 11-1, L 9-8 (10) April 19-21 at Illinois: L 5-3, L 7-1, L 11-7 April 23 vs Illinois State: W 7-6 (10) April 26-28 vs Purdue: L 9-3, L 10-7, L 11-3 April 30 at Illinois-Chicago: L 3-2

IOWA HAWKEYES PROJECTED STARTING ROTATION

RHP Brody Brecht (TBA) – Over the last two weeks, Brody Brecht has put together his best outings of the season. In his starts against Rutgers and Nebraska, Brecht has combined to allow just one earned run on three hits over 14.2 innings, including 23 strikeouts to just six walks. A lot of his success has come from being in the zone, as 137 of his 219 (62.6%) pitches have gone for strikes. Brody will be looking to make it three straight quality starts against the Big Ten’s worst scoring offense.

RHP Marcus Morgan (TBA) – Three weeks ago, Marcus Morgan went out and held the Ohio State offense to just one run on three hits over 6.0 innings. There was hope that he was turning a corner at the right time. Since then, Marcus has appeared in four games, with two starts and has allowed nine runs on six hits over 10.0 innings, including ten strikeouts to 17 free bases. Opponents are averaging just 0.91 hits per inning, but 1.32 free bases per inning has been a huge issue.

Starter #3 – With Cade Obermueller’s start in doubt, the Hawkeyes may have to go another way. Aaron Savary figures to be the first option, as he made the start last weekend with Obermueller out of the rotation. Savary allowed four runs on five hits over 3.0 innings, including three strikeouts against Nebraska on Saturday. On the year, the sophomore right-hander has a 4.50 ERA over 26.0 innings, including 29 strikeouts to just ten walks.

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS PROJECTED STARTING ROTATION

RHP Kyle Potthoff (TBA) – A grad transfer from Missouri, Kyle Potthoff has appeared in 14 games with ten starts this season. He owns a 4.42 ERA over 57.0 innings, including 29 strikeouts to just 17 walks. Potthoff is giving up just 0.37 free bases per inning, but opponents have had some success against him with 54 total hits. Last time out against UIC, Potthoff allowed one run on two hits over 4.0 innings. He did throw 61 pitches, so it will be interesting to see if that pushes him to a later weekend appearance.

LHP Nolan Morr (TBA) – A senior lefthander, Nolan Morr has appeared in 14 games with 12 starts this season. He has a 9.00 ERA over 44.0 innings, including 36 strikeouts to just ten walks. Morr is allowing just 0.39 free bases per inning, but opponents have really gotten ahold of him, averaging 1.55 hits per inning, including 13 home runs. Over his last six outings, Morr has not gone longer than 2.0 innings.

Starter #3 (TBA) – Looking at who could be a third starter for the Wildcats, Luke Benneche (6 starts, 7.38 ERA), Jack Dyke (4 starts, 7.12 ERA) and Matt McClure (3 starts, 5.48 ERA) have all made starts this season. Last weekend against Purdue, senior righthander Matt McClure made the start. He allowed seven runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings.

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE WILDCATS

1. 2B Owen McElfatrick – The most dangerous hitter in the Northwestern lineup, Owen McElfatrick has a team-leading 21 extra base hits. He is batting .301, with a .380 on-base percentage, including 50 hits, 12 doubles, eight home runs and 26 RBI’s. McElfatrick has racked up 14 multi-hit games, including six three hit games.

2. C Bennett Markinson – The best overall hitter for the Wildcats, Bennett Markinson has a team-leading .331 average, including 53 hits, seven doubles, four home runs and 30 RBI’s. He’s a guy that is going to put the ball in play, with just 28 walks/strikeouts in 179 plate appearances. Markinson has 17 multi-hit games this season and is currently riding a six-game hitting streak.

3. LF Preston Knott – A transfer from Northern Oklahoma College, Preston Knott has appeared in 36 games with 29 starts this season. He is batting .308 with a team-leading .432 on-base percentage, including six doubles and six home runs. Knott leads the team with 21 hits and a .344 batting average in Big Ten play.

4. RF Jackson Freeman – A true freshman from Ladera Ranch, Texas, Jackson Freeman has started all 40 games in the outfield. Freeman is batting .236, including six doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 26 RBI’s. Although he does not have a high average, Freeman leads the team with 34 walks/hit by pitches, which gives him a .381 on-base percentage. That being said, he has hit an extreme cold stretch, going 0/29 with five walks over the last eight games.

5. 1B Trent Liolios – A sophomore from California, Trent Liolios has started 39 of 40 games this season for the Wildcats. He is batting just .207 on the season, but has six doubles, seven home runs and is tied for the team lead with 30 RBI’s. Liolios has struggled in Big Ten play with a .192 average, but has been opportunistic with a team-leading 11 RBI’s in 15 games.

FINAL THOUGHT

With the injury issues and questions on the pitching staff, the Hawkeyes do not want to travel to Champaign next week with work to do against the conference leading Illini to make the Big Ten Tournament. Taking two out of three from the Wildcats would give them 12 wins and likely earn them a trip to Omaha barring a wild tie for 8th place. It’s time for a couple of players to step up and help punch the Hawkeyes ticket to the Big Ten Tournament. Who’s going to be the one to do it? We will see this weekend.