Fresh off of a series win over defending Big Ten champion Illinois this past weekend, the Hawkeye baseball team (14-15, 5-4 Big Ten) will welcome a new challenge to Banks Field today and Wednesday.
The Air Force Falcons (18-8) will come to Iowa City for a two-game midweek battle with the Hawks, the teams’ first matchup since 1999. Both games are set for 6:05 p.m.
After playing three games against the Illini April 8 through Sunday, Iowa head coach Rick Heller said resting is the most important thing.
“We’re just going to hopefully get rested up before the double-midweek,” Heller said after the series finale victory over Illinois. “It’s going to be a challenge with how we had to extend our bullpen [against Illinois]. But I’m looking forward to it to see how we handle that.”
The first game of the series will pit Iowa senior right-hander Calvin Mathews (0-3, 7.36 ERA) against Falcon freshman righty Matt Hargreaves (1-0, 2.70 ERA). Iowa’s second-game starter on Wednesday has not been announced; the Hawks will face Air Force freshman lefty Ethan Nichols (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
Mathews will start after taking a brief hiatus from the rotation. Heller said there have been concerns about the Bloomfield native’s control and that tonight’s game will be a test for the senior.
“Mathews is a warrior for us,” Heller said. “We’re going to start him [today], see if we can get him figured out, and see if he can get his command back, because really that’s all it is. He’s just been off a little bit.”
The Falcons bring an impressive offensive stat line to Iowa City, hitting .343 as a team, one of the best averages the Hawkeye defense will all season. Junior utility player Adam Groesbeck leads the team with a .444 average, and junior outfielder Tyler Jones leads the Falcons with 10 home runs.
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The powerful Falcons don’t strike any fear into the Hawkeyes, however, senior outfielder Joel Booker said.
“Our mentality is the same as it was Day 1,” he said. “Just take it pitch by pitch and don’t look too far ahead or dwell on the past.”
Freshman second baseman and pitcher Zach Daniels agreed.
Daniels, who came in to close the April 10 rubber match against Illinois, has had a solid freshman year. He sports a 1-1 record with a 3.00 ERA on the mound and said his performance against Illinois, along with the series win, could go a long way this week.
“We haven’t been that good on Sundays,” he said. “But Coach has been telling us that if we want to win championships, we have to take Sunday.”
Now looking ahead to feisty Air Force, Heller knows that building a championship team is a process and if his team buckles down and focuses, the Falcons’ five-game winning streak will be shattered.
