1 week Ago By Hawkeyes Wire
In a midweek matchup vs. UW-Milwaukee (9-21, 7-4 Horizon League), Iowa baseball (21-10, 12-3 Big Ten) continued their torrid pace on Tuesday evening with an 11-6 win over the Panthers from Duane Banks Field. "It was good to get to play today," said head coach Rick Heller.
"I was a little worried over the weekend when I saw the forecast in Milwaukee. We were fortunate that Shaun and their staff agreed it was the right thing to do to come down."Freshman right-hander Jaron Bleeker (2-0, 4.
32 ERA) started on the mound for the Hawkeyes, where he walked two batters and gave up one hit in two innings of work. Bleeker escaped a bases-loaded jam with a double play in the first inning and before retiring Milwaukee in order in the second frame. Senior righty Chas Wheatley (2-0, 2.
00 ERA) was credited with the win as he struck out two Panthers and walked one in his lone inning of action.Pounced on the Panthers.#Hawkeyespic.
twitter.com/Kt6XlesAWt— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 9, 2025"If I'm in that bullpen, I'm thinking there's some spots to be had, and I'm going to jump up and grab it," said Heller. "That's what you're hoping for in these midweek games is that if you're not getting the innings you want or your role isn't what you expect or like or whatever, here's an opportunity to say, 'Give me a shot.
"Seven other Iowa pitchers took the hill throughout the game. Junior righty Justin Hackett (0-0, 0.00 ERA) struck out the side in his lone inning of work.
Junior righty Anthony Watts (2-2, 4.63 ERA) did the same in the ninth to clinch the victory for the Hawkeyes."It was really a tale of two games in one," said Heller.
"The first five innings I thought were outstanding. The last four really weren't. We made some mistakes and didn't pitch great at times.
I was hoping we didn't have to use Watts, but we got to a point where we had to."The Hawkeye pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts, gave up six free bases and allowed three earned runs on the day.An RBI SAC fly from Miles Risley put Iowa on the board in the first.
The Hawkeyes scored three more in the third frame on a Risley RBI double down the left field line, a Tyler Guerin RBI fielder's choice and a wild pitch. Iowa added to its lead in the next inning when Reese Moore hit an RBI double to the right field wall.The Hawkeyes poured on four more in the fifth as Blake Guerin clobbered a solo homer run to dead center field for his seventh home run of the season.
That's gone 👋@GuerinBlake leads us off with his seventh HR of the season!B5 | Iowa 6, Milwaukee 0#Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/4XiWBdB1s9— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 8, 2025Kellen Strohymer then scorched his second career home run off a line-drive three-run bomb that hit the scoreboard in left field to increase the Hawkeyes lead to 9-0.
Stroh goes oppo to the scoreboard 💥B5 | Iowa 9, Milwaukee 0#Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/B3SbI7QQjh— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 8, 2025Two more Hawkeyes came home in the seventh when Daniel Rogers hit an RBI SAC fly, and Andy Nelson slapped an RBI single.
Gable Mitchell, Kooper Schulte, Strohmeyer, and Moore all had multi-hit games, led by Strohmeyer with three. Mitchell went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and three runs scored. Schulte went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.
"There were really some bright spots today," said Heller. "Strohmeyer had a great game. There's guys on the team that have been caught in between not being able to go because this guy is playing well or this guy is playing well.
Strohmeyer has played well all the times he's been out there, he just hasn't been out there a lot. It felt like today was the day to give him the chance to play the whole game and get out there and go, and I'm glad we made that decision."Up next for the Hawkeyes will be a three-game Big Ten series vs.
Nebraska (14-18, 4-8) from Duane Banks Field, running from April 11-13.Assuming the weather does not impact the scheduling, the Friday series opener will start at 6:02 p.m.
CT and also broadcast on Big Ten Plus (subscription required). Game 2 of the series, scheduled for Saturday at 2:02 p.m.
CT, will also air on Big Ten Plus.The series finale, scheduled for Sunday at 1:02 p.m.
CT, will air on the Big Ten Network (BTN).Watch Iowa vs. Nebraska (Game 2)As always, fans can listen to the action alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans on the Hawkeyes Radio Network.
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Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa baseball wins midweek matchup vs UW-Milwaukee.
