Needing a win in a huge series against No. 12 Oklahoma State to keep hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament alive, Iowa baseball came up big, taking the series from the Cowboys with an 11-3 win on Sunday.
After dropping the first game, 7-6, in a near-comeback, the Hawkeyes used their offense to grab a “W” in the next two.
Iowa scored 16 runs in two of its past four games, combining for 49 in the past four. Chris Whelan, Robert Neustrom, and Tyler Cropley have all swung the bat well recently, so it is no surprise that the Hawkeyes have the potential to make a comeback as they did in Game 2.
“It was just fun to see our guys play unselfishly,” Iowa head coach Rick Heller said. “Guys weren’t swinging for themselves. They were trying to find ways to get on base, and next man up, then somebody will get a hit … When you get guys to play like that, and not worry about yourself, and just focus on what you can do to help the team, you’re on the verge of having something special.”
On May 5, Iowa faced a 12-9 deficit heading into the seventh inning, but a Neustrom single through the left side and a 3-run double from Matt Hoeg gave the Hawkeyes a lead they didn’t surrender.
Following the 16-14 win, Iowa needed a solid outing from its Sunday starter to keep things low-scoring and less hectic.
With Cole McDonald and others out of the question, Jack Dreyer delivered.
The freshman left-hander tossed 5 strong innings in a crucial outing, allowing just 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 6.
Dreyer’s potential has been showcased in a midweek and relief role this season, and now it seems as if he is a legitimate weekend threat.
Sophomore Grant Judkins followed with 3.2 solid innings, not giving up a run until the ninth. Nick Nelsen then came in to grab the final out and send the Hawkeyes back to the clubhouse with an 11-3 win.
“Coach Heller always talks about no matter who’s up, it’s just next guy forward,” Dreyer said. “We don’t really think too much about who it’s going to be, because we have confidence in every guy that throws.”
That Oklahoma State traveled to Iowa City to boost its RPI says a lot about where the Hawkeye program is as a whole.
With NCAA Tournament berths and a Big Ten Tournament title on Heller’s résumé, it’s clear that Iowa is on the rise in the college-baseball scene.
“Teams a few years before us wouldn’t have had the opportunity to have a team like [Oklahoma State] come in,” left fielder Whelan said. “Top 25 in the country, traveling all the way to Iowa to play us. The guys in the past have set the tone and got this program back on track, and we’re fortunate to have those guys come out. This sets the tone for the rest of the season.”
Now with the Big Ten Tournament approaching and just two conference series left, Iowa is in position to accomplish what it wanted to all season, thanks to its work ethic.