It’s Iowa-North Carolina part two. This time, everything is on the line in this elimination game rematch.
Iowa opened its sixth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance by topping North Carolina, 5-4, to move into the winner’s bracket. The Hawkeyes jumped in front with a quick two-RBI double from redshirt junior Sam Hojnar in the first. Then, Iowa quickly added another run in the second off sophomore Ben Wilmes’ RBI single to lead 3-0.
Behind a strong start from sophomore Marcus Morgan and a good relief appearance from sophomore Jack Whitlock, Iowa led 3-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Hawkeyes added a pair of insurance runs on redshirt junior Brayden Frazier’s RBI single and junior Cade Moss’ sacrifice bunt.
Those two runs proved to be pivotal once things got sideways on redshirt junior reliever Will Cristophersen in the ninth. Fortunately, redshirt junior Luke Llewellyn came in and struck out UNC’s Tomas Frick and Hunter Stokely to lock down the win and earn the save.
It looked like Iowa (43-15, 15-8 Big Ten) was on its way to the regional championship last night, too. Leading Indiana State 4-2, the Hawkeyes needed just six outs to advance in the winner’s bracket and sit a victory away from the Super Regionals.
Instead, more bullpen troubles emerged for the Hawkeyes as the Sycamores once again conjured eighth-inning magic in this Terre Haute Regional. Indiana State plated five runs off Iowa redshirt senior Jared Simpson and Llewellyn and the Sycamores handed the Hawkeyes a 7-4 loss.
That brings us to the rematch this morning. Here’s when and where fans can tune into the Hawkeyes against the Tar Heels (36-23, 14-14 ACC). Plus, some game notes.
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
ESPN+: Sam Ravech, Danan Hughes
Hawkeye Radio Network: John Leo, play-by-play; John Evans, color analyst
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa: Junior RHP Ty Langenberg (6-3 record, 4.06 ERA, 71 innings pitched, 80 strikeouts, 30 walks)
North Carolina: RHP Cam Padgett (2-1 record, 5.67 ERA, 33 1/3 innings pitched, 25 strikes, 15 walks)
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa hopes it gets the version of Ty Langenberg it got during his last time out. The 6-foot-2, 190 pound righty tossed seven innings of two-hit, scoreless baseball in the Hawkeyes’ 5-0 Big Ten Tournament win over Michigan. The Urbandale, Iowa, native struck out nine Wolverines.
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sam Hojnar delivered the two-RBI double to get things started against North Carolina in the first on Friday. Then, on Saturday versus Indiana State, Iowa redshirt sophomore Raider Tello singled to bring home sophomore Sam Petersen. It’s been back-to-back fast offensive starts for Iowa.
Can the Hawkeyes deliver that again? After the bullpen collapse to end last night, it would be a nice emotional lift to get a Sunday started that Iowa hopes is a lengthy one.
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK
Iowa has already had a historic season. The Hawkeyes tracked down the program’s sixth all-time NCAA Tournament bid and the third under Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller.
Iowa is one win away from tying the program’s single-season wins record, though. Top North Carolina and Iowa will tie it. Top North Carolina and turn around and beat Indiana State and the Hawkeyes will set a new school record for single-season wins.
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