Where Iowa Baseball stands among other Big Ten teams

The Iowa Baseball team is off to their best start in Big Ten play since 2015, winning their last eight conference games, including back-to-back sweeps of Ohio State and Minnesota. Heading into week five of the Big Ten season, the Hawkeyes (17-9, 10-2) are tied for first place in the standings with UCLA.

One of just five Big Ten teams to already have three series wins in conference play, the Hawkeyes have won all four series and are well on their way towards an all-important top four spot in the Big Ten Tournament. Here’s a look at where Iowa sits amongst all other Big Ten teams heading into week five of conference play.

Standings

1. Iowa (17-9, 10-2)
2. UCLA (22-5, 10-2)
3. Oregon (20-7, 8-4)
4. Michigan (15-12, 7-5)
5. Northwestern (12-13, 5-4)
6. Washington (11-16, 5-4)
7. Penn State (17-10, 6-6)
8. USC (16-11, 6-6)
9. Indiana (15-13, 6-6)
10. Michigan State (17-10, 4-5)
11. Illinois (13-11, 4-5)
12. Rutgers (13-15, 4-5)
13. Purdue (20-7, 3-6)
14. Maryland (14-14, 3-6)
15. Nebraska (12-15, 2-7)
16. Minnesota (11-14, 2-7)
17. Ohio State (8-16, 2-7)

The Hawkeyes and Bruins continued their torrid pace to start Big Ten play, with both teams earning sweeps with past weekend. Iowa went on the road and swept Minnesota (16-7, 13-0, 7-6) while UCLA traveled to West Lafayette, sweeping Purdue (8-5, 13-12, 16-3). Elsewhere, Oregon, who entered the week tied atop the standings, stumbled big time, dropping two of three against previously winless Ohio State. Michigan was the big winner of the week, taking two of three from Penn State to rise to the top of the pack of six teams vying for the fourth-place position.

Although the Big Ten season is far from over, with seven weeks remaining, the newly formatted 12-team tournament places a lot of importance on earning a top four spot. With 18-12 earning the #4 spot in the ACC Tournament the last two years, Iowa and UCLA are in fantastic position, while Oregon is off to a good start as well.

Run Margin Leaders

1. Iowa: +127
2. Oregon: +122
3. UCLA: +112
4. Purdue: +95
5. Indiana: +79
6. Penn State: +59
7. Maryland: +55
8. Michigan State: +41
9. Illinois: +29
10. Michigan: +14
11. USC: +9
12. Washington: +5
13. Rutgers: -1
14. Minnesota: -6
15. Nebraska: -8
16. Northwestern: -16
17. Ohio State: -59

Iowa is fourth in the Big Ten in wins, but they have been impressive with their wins. Through 26 games, the Hawkeyes have a +127 run margin, which leads the entire Big Ten. Not only have they been impressive in their wins, with an 8.4 run average margin of victory, they’ve lost several close games and have 2.6 run average margin of defeat. Rick Heller’s squad is the only team in the top four with less than 20 wins and are +48 on the first team with less than 20 wins (Indiana).

Big Ten Team Pitching Leaders

1. Iowa: 3.93 ERA
2. Oregon: 3.95 ERA
3. UCLA: 4.33 ERAA
4. Michigan State: 4.97 ERA
5. Purdue: 5.13 ERA
6. USC: 5.22 ERA
7. Washington: 5.26 ERA
8. Rutgers: 5.27 ERA
9. Michigan: 5.41 ERA
10. Nebraska: 5.61 ERA
11. Indiana: 5.87 ERA
12. Penn State: 6.14 ERA

It’s been pretty impressive seeing the turnaround that the pitching staff and first-year pitching coach Sean Kenny have made from last season. The Hawkeyes ranked 5th in ERA (5.79) and 13th in walks per nine innings (6.3) last season, but have improved to 1st in ERA (3.93) and 7th in walks per nine innings (4.5). That has propelled them into 2nd in WHIP (1.33), trailing only Oregon.

At the forefront of the turnaround has been the starting rotation, with Iowa getting 110.0 innings out of them, which leads the conference. Junior left-hander Cade Obermueller is having the breakout season many hoped for, ranking second with a 2.95 ERA, including 53 strikeouts to 13 walks. Junior right-hander Aaron Savary has been a consistent Saturday arm, ranking 12th with his 3.75 ERA, while Reece Beuter has pitched to his potential on Sundays, with a 3.67 ERA that ranks 9th.

Big Ten Pitching Leaders (min 30 INN)

1. LHP Joseph Dzierwa (Michigan State): 1.27 ERA in 42.2 innings
2. LHP Cade Obermueller (Iowa): 2.95 ERA in 39.2 innings
3. RHP Landon Mack (Rutgers): 3.15 ERA in 34.1 innings
4. RHP Cole Gilley (Indiana): 3.34 ERA in 32.1 innings
5. LHP Kyle McCoy (Maryland): 3.43 ERA in 42.0 innings
6. LHP Grayson Grinsell (Oregon): 3.46 ERA in 39.0 innings
7. LHP Caden Hunter (USC): 3.46 ERA in 39.0 innings
8. RHP Carter Doorn (Purdue): 3.51 ERA in 33.1 innings
9. RHP Reece Beuter (Iowa): 3.67 ERA in 34.1 innings
10. RHP Nolan Higgins (Michigan State): 3.71 ERA in 34.0 innings
11. RHP David Lally Jr (Michigan): 3.72 ERA in 36.1 innings
12. RHP Aaron Savary (Iowa): 3.75 ERA in 36.0 innings

Big Ten Team Batting Leaders

1. Iowa: .318 AVG
2. Purdue: .318 AVG
3. Indiana: .310 AVG
4. Maryland: .303 AVG
5. UCLA: .301 AVG
6. Oregon: .299 AVG
7. Illinois: .293 AVG
8. Michigan: .283 AVG
9. USC: .283 AVG
10. Penn State: .283 AVG
11. Minnesota: .273 AVG
12. Michigan State: .272 AVG

On the offensive side, Iowa came into the season with some notable question marks, but they have far exceeded expectations, silencing any preseason doubts. The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten with a .318 batting average, while they have scored 10+ runs in 11 of their last 17 games and are averaging 11.06 runs per game over that stretch. Despite all of the preseason concerns, Iowa ranks 3rd in hits (292), 2nd in on-base percentage (.431), 4th in walks (144) and 6th in home runs (39).

As you would expect with an offense as productive as the Hawkeyes, there are several players ranking near the top of the conference. Catcher/DH Reese Moore has been absolutely on fire, totaling 29 hits over his last 17 games, including eight home runs. Meanwhile, Gable Mitchell is quietly becoming one of the best pure hitters in the conference, slashing .380/.481/.546, while ranking sixth in the conference in hits (41) and second in doubles (12). The surprise name on this list is redshirt sophomore Ben Swails, who ranks 12th with a .373 average and has become the Hawkeyes everyday second baseman.

Big Ten Batting Leaders (min 50 at-bats)

1. INF Lukas Cook (Purdue): .463 AVG
2. INF Ethan Hedges (USC): .413 AVG
3. DH/INF Logan Sutter (Purdue): .409 AVG
4. INF Benny Casillas (Michigan): .404 AVG
5. INF Jake Hanley (Indiana): .398 AVG
6. INF Chris Hacopian (Maryland): .395 AVG
7. INF Mitch Voit (Michigan): .392 AVG
8. C/DH Reese Moore (Iowa): .385 AVG
9. INF Maddox Molony (Oregon): .383 AVG
10. INF Gable Mitchell (Iowa): .380 AVG
11. OF Devin Taylor (Indiana): .375 AVG
12. INF Ben Swails (Iowa): .373 AVG

The Hawkeyes return to action on Tuesday for a midweek matchup with Bradley at Dozer Park in Peoria, IL. Their nine-game road trip continues next weekend, with a three-game series at Northwestern in Evanston.