Just a reminder, the nationally ranked Iowa Baseball team will be hosting their final regular season series when they face Minnesota. Friday night should be a good one. The Gophers pitcher is an MLB prospect and will be a tough challenge.
Sunday's game will be on the Big Ten Network.
THIS WEEK
The 15th-ranked University of Iowa baseball team hosts Minnesota in its final home series of the regular season from May 8-10 at Duane Banks Field. Friday’s series opener is slated to begin at 6:05 p.m., Saturday’s at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
PROMOTIONS
• The series against Minnesota is Alumni Weekend with UI baseball alumni and families receiving free admission.
• Saturday is “Make a Wish” game, and Iowa will celebrate the program’s 1990 Big Ten championship team. Fans are invited to watch “The Sandlot” on the new videoboard following the game. Free popcorn buckets and popcorn for the first 200 fans.
• Sunday is Senior Day, where the program will recognize its nine seniors prior to first pitch.
GAME COVERAGE
• Friday and Saturday’s games will be streamed live on BTN Plus on BTN2Go, while Sunday’s finale will be televised live on BTN. Andy Masur and Scott Pose will call Sunday’s action.
• The series will be broadcast on AM-1360 KMJM on Friday and both 1360 and AM-800 KXIC on Saturday with Brent Balbinot and Steve Duncan on the call. All three games will also be available via the subscription-based service Hawkeye All-Access on hawkeyesports.com.
• Fans can also follow every game with live stats (GameTracker) on hawkeyesports.com and live updates are also available on Twitter: @UIBaseball.
LEADING OFF
• The Hawkeyes are ranked for the sixth straight week, coming in No. 15 by Collegiate Baseball, 16th by Baseball America, 18th by D1Baseball, 19th by Perfect Game, and 20th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll and by the NCBWA. Iowa’s RPI is 25 on D1Baseball through the May 6 games.
• Iowa, who has clinched a spot in the 2015 Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis, has won six straight and nine of its last 10 home games dating back to April 15. The Hawkeyes are 14-3 at Banks Field this season -- the most home victories since 2010 (15-6).
• Iowa has won seven straight Big Ten series dating back to the 2014 season -- the longest stretch for the program in school history. The Hawkeyes haven’t had a losing weekend in 2015; they went 2-2 at Houston Baptist.
• The Hawkeyes registered their 30th victory of the season in game two of an April 26 doubleheader against Nebraska, giving Iowa back-to-back 30 win seasons for the first time since 1989 and 1990. The 34 victories are the most for the program since 1990 (38).
• UI head coach Rick Heller won the 750th game of his coaching career on April 26 against Nebraska. Heller is the winningest coach in Iowa history in his first two seasons, winning 64 games.
• Iowa is 15-3 in Big Ten Conference play, 1 1/2 game behind Illinois in the league standings. Minnesota is ninth at 7-11 and is fighting for one of the eight spots in the Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes’ 15 Big Ten wins are the most since 2010.
• Senior Eric Toole is two singles shy of becoming the program’s school record holder in career singles. His next hit will also move him alone into fourth place on the all-time hits list.
• Junior Blake Hickman is tied for the Big Ten lead with five wins, going 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six starts. The right-hander has seven victories this season -- tying the highest win total by a Hawkeye since 2010.
• The Hawkeyes rank seventh nationally in team fielding percentage (.979), 10th in hits allowed per nine innings (7.46), and 16th in team ERA (2.96).
• Iowa baseball fans can follow the Hawkeyes via social media at: facebook.com/iowabaseball and Twitter - @UIBaseball.
Sunday's game will be on the Big Ten Network.
THIS WEEK
The 15th-ranked University of Iowa baseball team hosts Minnesota in its final home series of the regular season from May 8-10 at Duane Banks Field. Friday’s series opener is slated to begin at 6:05 p.m., Saturday’s at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
PROMOTIONS
• The series against Minnesota is Alumni Weekend with UI baseball alumni and families receiving free admission.
• Saturday is “Make a Wish” game, and Iowa will celebrate the program’s 1990 Big Ten championship team. Fans are invited to watch “The Sandlot” on the new videoboard following the game. Free popcorn buckets and popcorn for the first 200 fans.
• Sunday is Senior Day, where the program will recognize its nine seniors prior to first pitch.
GAME COVERAGE
• Friday and Saturday’s games will be streamed live on BTN Plus on BTN2Go, while Sunday’s finale will be televised live on BTN. Andy Masur and Scott Pose will call Sunday’s action.
• The series will be broadcast on AM-1360 KMJM on Friday and both 1360 and AM-800 KXIC on Saturday with Brent Balbinot and Steve Duncan on the call. All three games will also be available via the subscription-based service Hawkeye All-Access on hawkeyesports.com.
• Fans can also follow every game with live stats (GameTracker) on hawkeyesports.com and live updates are also available on Twitter: @UIBaseball.
LEADING OFF
• The Hawkeyes are ranked for the sixth straight week, coming in No. 15 by Collegiate Baseball, 16th by Baseball America, 18th by D1Baseball, 19th by Perfect Game, and 20th in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll and by the NCBWA. Iowa’s RPI is 25 on D1Baseball through the May 6 games.
• Iowa, who has clinched a spot in the 2015 Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis, has won six straight and nine of its last 10 home games dating back to April 15. The Hawkeyes are 14-3 at Banks Field this season -- the most home victories since 2010 (15-6).
• Iowa has won seven straight Big Ten series dating back to the 2014 season -- the longest stretch for the program in school history. The Hawkeyes haven’t had a losing weekend in 2015; they went 2-2 at Houston Baptist.
• The Hawkeyes registered their 30th victory of the season in game two of an April 26 doubleheader against Nebraska, giving Iowa back-to-back 30 win seasons for the first time since 1989 and 1990. The 34 victories are the most for the program since 1990 (38).
• UI head coach Rick Heller won the 750th game of his coaching career on April 26 against Nebraska. Heller is the winningest coach in Iowa history in his first two seasons, winning 64 games.
• Iowa is 15-3 in Big Ten Conference play, 1 1/2 game behind Illinois in the league standings. Minnesota is ninth at 7-11 and is fighting for one of the eight spots in the Big Ten Tournament. The Hawkeyes’ 15 Big Ten wins are the most since 2010.
• Senior Eric Toole is two singles shy of becoming the program’s school record holder in career singles. His next hit will also move him alone into fourth place on the all-time hits list.
• Junior Blake Hickman is tied for the Big Ten lead with five wins, going 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA in six starts. The right-hander has seven victories this season -- tying the highest win total by a Hawkeye since 2010.
• The Hawkeyes rank seventh nationally in team fielding percentage (.979), 10th in hits allowed per nine innings (7.46), and 16th in team ERA (2.96).
• Iowa baseball fans can follow the Hawkeyes via social media at: facebook.com/iowabaseball and Twitter - @UIBaseball.
