Iowa baseball eliminated from Big Ten Tournament with Michigan loss

OMAHA — The ultimate day of Iowa’s arduous baseball marathon wanted the identical stage of flawless execution that acquired the Hawkeyes right here. If Rick Heller’s bunch was actually going to tug off a two-win Sunday after a two-win Saturday, all the pieces after which some needed to circulation completely.

The hill proved too excessive for Iowa to climb.

The Hawkeyes’ pitching plan was disrupted early in addition to late. Michigan ultimately overwhelmed Iowa’s weary unit en path to a 13-1 win, which advances the Wolverines to Sunday’s Massive Ten Match title recreation towards Rutgers at Charles Schwab Area Omaha. The Hawkeyes head house having fought so long as they may after a surprising Thursday loss. However, there is a cause why the loser’s bracket is not the popular route. 

Following Cam Baumann’s lead from the evening earlier than, Iowa wanted comparable gutsy outings to sift by way of this one. Brody Brecht acquired the primary alternative to show his elite stuff outweighed his excessive stroll fee, however Brecht made all of it of 4 batters (with two free passes) earlier than Heller went to an early hook. Michigan’s 2-0 first-inning lead was an indication of catastrophe to return. 

The Hawkeyes subsequent turned to Dylan Nedved, who by way of 93 pitches Friday towards Purdue however nonetheless stabilized issues Sunday with no earned runs allowed over three innings. As soon as Duncan Davitt acquired by way of his shift subsequent, the Hawkeyes confronted a troublesome however manageable 4-1 gap. Had it stayed proper there, Iowa at the very least had a puncher’s likelihood for some late-inning heroics.

That did not occur.        

Michigan busted issues open with a nine-run seventh, biking by way of 4 Iowa relievers en route to a few bases-clearing hits. Jared Simpson, Connor Schultz, Will Christopherson and Luke Llewellyn all absorbed powerful injury. Iowa’s bats, in the meantime, had little response with only one run and three hits. 

It appeared Iowa would possibly flip momentum within the fifth, when Michigan reliever Willie Weiss was ejected for having a overseas substance on his glove. It led to a prolonged delay with Hawkeyes on base, however Cameron Weston closed the door from there on any rally hopes. 

Did Iowa do sufficient this weekend to snag an at-large bid? Whereas profitable three consecutive elimination video games after dropping a tough one to Penn State Thursday seemed good on the sphere, it did little for RPI enchancment. It is shaping as much as be one other powerful Choice Monday in Iowa Metropolis.      

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa Metropolis Press-Citizen. E-mail him at msouthard@gannett.com or comply with him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.