Iowa Baseball Weekend Preview: at Nebraska

WEEKEND SERIES: AT NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (25-13) (8-4)

The Iowa Baseball team arrives in Lincoln riding a five-game winning streak, highlighted by a massive three-game sweep of Rutgers last weekend. Rick Heller’s squad outscored the Scarlet Knights 28-7, propelling themselves away from the Big Ten Tournament bubble for the time being. Following a strong performance from Cade Obermueller, Brody Brecht and the bullpen, the Hawkeyes will aim to replicate their success against their western border rival.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers enter this weekend with a 25-13 overall record and are currently tied for third in the Big Ten with an 8-4 record. Despite recent struggles, losing seven of their last ten games, they have performed well in conference play, winning three out of four series, including a sweep of Northwestern. Current projections from Baseball America and D1Baseball place the Huskers solidly in the NCAA Tournament as a number 2 seed.

Nebraska Last 10 Games (3-7)

April 7 vs Ohio State: L 9-3 April 9 at Kansas: L 13-11 April 12-14 at Rutgers: L 7-6 (11), W 16-1, L 6-4 April 16 vs Creighton: L 6-4 April 19-21 vs Maryland: W 6-3, L 11-2, W 16-4 April 23 vs Kansas: L 9-4

IOWA HAWKEYES *PROJECTED* STARTING ROTATION

LHP Cade Obermueller (Friday) – Setting the tone for the series against Rutgers, Cade Obermueller delivered his best start of the season last Friday. He allowed just one run on five hits over 6.1 innings, including six strikeouts to just two walks. Cade threw 63.3% of his 98 pitches for strikes, which marked a season-high. Through ten starts, Obermueller owns a 3.75 ERA, with opponents batting just .182 against him. If Cade can continue to limit walks, he will be a tough matchup for the Huskers.

RHP Marcus Morgan (Saturday) – After turning in his best start of the season at Ohio State, Marcus Morgan struggled with free bases against Rutgers. He worked out of a couple of jams, but allowed gave up eight free bases over 4.1 innings. Morgan threw just 48.3% of his 87 pitches for strikes, which was a season-low.

RHP Brody Brecht (Sunday) – Going into the weekend, Brody Brecht was questionable with an oblique strain, but he was masterful on Sunday. Brecht one unearned run on one hit over 7.2 innings, including 12 strikeouts to three walks. Like Obermueller, Brody put up season-high percentage for strikes thrown (65.5%).

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS *PROJECTED* STARTING ROTATION

RHP Brett Sears (Friday) – The frontrunner for Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Brett Sears has gone from bullpen arm to Friday ace for the Huskers. In ten starts, Sears has Big Ten-best 1.58 ERA over 68.1 innings, including 68 strikeouts to just 12 walks. Opponents are averaging just 0.54 hits per inning and are batting just .199 on balls in play. Nebraska is 9-1 this season with Sears as the starter. He has a four-pitch arsenal with a fastball in the low-mid 90’s.

OTHER POTENTIAL STARTERS

RHP Drew Christo – The junior Nebraska native Drew Christo has appeared in ten games this season with nine start, posting a 5.49 ERA over 39.1 innings. He has totaled 33 strikeouts to 15 walks and while opponents are batting .247 against him, 44.7% of his hits allowed have gone for extra bases. In their midweek against Kansas, Christo allowed four runs on four hits over 2.0 innings, including five strikeouts and two walks.

RHP Mason McConnaughey – A transfer from Cloud County CC, Mason McConnaughey has appeared in 11 games with five starts, posting a 3.41 ERA over 37.0 innings. He has racked up 46 strikeouts to just 11 walks, but opponents have had success when they put the bat on the ball, with a .327 average on balls in play. McConnaughey threw 7.0 shutout innings against Rutgers on 4/13, but allowed five runs on five hits over 1.2 innings last week against Maryland.

LHP Will Walsh – A veteran for the Huskers, Will Walsh has appeared in ten games with seven starts, posting a 4.97 ERA over 41.2 innings. His 6.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio is very good, but opponents have really swung that bat well against him. Walsh is allowing 1.23 hits per inning and opponents are batting .355 on balls in play. Last time out against Maryland, Walsh allowed four runs on six hits over 5.1 innings, including seven strikeouts and no walks.

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE HUSKERS

1. C Josh Caron – The most dangerous hitter in the Nebraska lineup, catcher Josh Caron is batting .293, leading the team with 75 total bases, 43 hits, seven home runs and 40 RBI’s. Caron has totaled 12 multi-hit games, while recording a hit and an RBI in 20 games. He is a double play threat, grounding into a team-high seven double plays.

2. CF Riley Silva – One of just three players to start at least 35 of 38 games, Riley Silva joined the Huskers this season as a transfer from Barton County CC. Silva is fourth on the team with 36 hits, but only has two extra base hits. However, he is still a big threat due to his ability to get on base and do damage when he gets there. Silva has a .422 on-base percentage and is first on the team with 32 walks/hit by pitches. He leads the Big Ten with 23 stolen bases on 25 attempts.

3. 2B Cayden Brumbaugh – A transfer from Oklahoma State, Cayden Brumbaugh has started 28 games in the infield this season. He is batting .345, with a .412 on-base percentage, including 39 hits, 11 doubles and three triples. His speed makes an impact on the basepaths, where he is tied for second on the team with ten stolen bags. Brumbaugh has 13 multi-hit games and has gotten hot over the last four games totaling eight hits, five extra base hits and seven RBI’s.

4. 1B Tyler Stone – A transfer from Iowa Western CC, Tyler Stone has appeared in 32 games this season with 25 starts. Stone is batting .337, with a .429 on-base percentage, including six doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI’s. He has racked up eight multi-hit games, including back-to-back games with three hits against Maryland and Kansas. At IWCC last season, Stone clubbed 12 doubles and 15 home runs.

5. OF Case Sanderson – A true freshman out of Nevada, MO, outfielder Case Sanderson has appeared in 30 games with 19 starts this season. Although he is tenth on the team in plate appearances (98), Sanderson is second on the team with 26 walks/hit by pitches and leads the team with a .521 on-base percentage. He is batting .348, including 24 hits and a pair of home runs.

6. SS Dylan Carey – Dylan Carey has been a staple at shortstop for the Huskers, starting 37 games this season. He is batting just .266, but is third on the team with 38 hits, including 12 doubles and four home runs. Carey does have ten multi-hit games, but has the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio amongst players with at least 20 starts (2.78).

7. RHP Casey Daiss and LHP Jalen Worthley – A pair of big arms in the Huskers bullpen, Daiss and Worthley have combined for a 2.48 ERA over 36.1 innings, including seven saves. A transfer from Pasco Hernandez JC, Casey Daiss has a 1.80 ERA in 13 appearances. Just 20.0% of his outs come via strikeout, with opponents batting .262 on balls in play. Jalen Worthley has appeared in 14 games, with a 295 ERA over 21.1 innings. He has racked up 17 strikeouts to just four walks, while opponents are batting just .208 against him.

MIDWEEK: VS ILLNOIS STATE (20-18)

The Hawkeyes’ early season trip to Bloomington was canceled due to rain, leading to this solo midweek meeting between the two teams. Illinois State holds a 20-18 overall record and is tied for fourth place in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Redbirds are just 2-11 against Q1/2 teams this season and 1-3 against Big Ten teams. They will travel to Murray State for a three-game series this weekend.

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE REDBIRDS

1. OF Daniel Pacella – The top power hitter in the Illinois State lineup, Daniel Pacella tied the freshman record for home runs with 16 last season. This year, Pacella is batting .359, with a .463 on-base percentage, including 51 hits, 13 doubles, eight home runs and 47 RBI’s. He has a respectable 15.7% strikeout rate and has drawn a team-high 30 walks/hit by pitches. Pacella has racked up 17 multi-hit games this season.

2. SS Luke Lawrence – The shortstop for the Redbirds, Luke Lawrence is batting .344 with a .402 on-base percentage, including a team-high 56 hits, nine doubles, three home runs and 35 RBI’s. He is tied for second on the team in total bases (76) and is second in runs scored (37). Lawrence has 16 multi-hit games this season and has eight stolen bases.

MIDWEEK: VS NORTH DAKOTA STATE (13-22)

For the first time since 2007, the Hawkeyes and Bison are set to face off on the diamond. Iowa, having swept a four-game series that year, aims for their ninth victory in what will be the 10th all-time meeting between the two schools. The Bison’s challenging schedule has seen them face #12 UC Irvine, #9 Oregon State, LSU, and Nebraska, resulting in a 0-10 record in those games. Despite a 13-22 overall record, NDSU is just half a game from the top spot in the Summit League standings. This weekend, NDSU will host Omaha in a three-game series.

TOP PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE BISON

1. SS Jake Schaffner – A true freshman out of Janesville, WI, shortstop Jake Schaffner has been an instant impact player for the Bison. Schaffner is third in the Summit League in batting average (.379), on-base percentage (.451) and total hits (47), including seven doubles and two triples. He has 15 multi-hit games and has 24 hits over the last 14 games.

2. OF Sam Canton – A transfer from Gonzaga, outfielder Sam Canton is batting .269, with a .355 on-base percentage, including seven doubles and two home runs. Canton leads the team in RBI’s with 27 and is second on the team in total bases with 50. He has 11 multi-hit games this season and has picked up as of late with 13 hits over his last seven games.

FINAL THOUGHT

Rooting guide for the weekend: Maryland (9th) over Illinois (1st) and Northwestern (13th) over Purdue (3rd)

This is an important series for the Hawkeyes, as they continue to try to build off the momentum of last weekend’s sweep of Rutgers. That being said, there should be no issues with getting excited to play these games. This is a rivalry series and the Huskers are going to be seeking revenge after Iowa got the sweep in Iowa City last season.

It’s also important to note that despite being on the Big Ten Tournament bubble last week, the Hawkeyes are not out of the regular season title hunt. Winning two out of three this weekend could vault them into third place with a chance to do more damage against Illinois in a couple of weeks. If Rick Heller and Co. want to make a run in Omaha at the conference tournament, they need to finish strong over the last few weeks to build up the belief that it can be done.