Iowa v. Pepperdine - Sunday, March 5th

[AuroraHawk]

To start, Iowa faces red-shirt Sophomore Tommy Scavone in this morning's game: https://pepperdinewaves.com/sports/baseball/roster/tommy-scavone/4142

He's pitched twice this year . . . against Boston College and Cal St. - Northridge.

Like Brecht, Scavone started the second game of Pepperdine's season (against BC). Pitched 3.1 innings, gave up 4 hits, 2 walks and 3 runs. He struck out 5 batters. Home game for Pepperdine and it lost 3-0.

Pepperdine had its next weekend of games cancelled against Alabama. Looks like Pepperdine was able to schedule a replacement game against Cal St. Northridge for last Sunday and Tuesday. Scavone pitched in relief in Sunday's game. He pitched 3.2 innings and gave up no runs on 3 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 6.

In their 16-0 win against Southern yesterday, Pepperdine used only two pitchers. In their 12-5 win over South Alabama, they used 4 pitchers but two of those 4 pitched one inning or less. They won't be running short on pitchers. They used 8 pitchers against BC in their Sunday game two weekends ago.

Here's hoping that Brecht reigns in his control, that Pepperdine's hitters demonstrate little patience and that Iowa's bats make better contact today. Keep up the momentum before what will be a very challenging road series at Texas Tech next weekend.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Pre-game Heller interview.

Time limit today because airline moved departure time up by more than an hour. A 4:15 p.m. departure means that there will likely be a "no new inning started" after 2:00 p.m. rule in place.

Two keys per Heller:
Brecht throwing strikes.
Iowa's batters not chasing bad pitches like last night.

Iowa is the away team . . .

EDIT #2: Pepperdine scratches Scavone as the starter. Going with a big lefty - Nathan Diamond - who hasn't started a game this year. Stats: https://pepperdinewaves.com/sports/baseball/roster/nathan-diamond/4113

Game starts with Seegers striking out . . .

 

[AuroraHawk]

Brecht has done fairly well with his control. 1 walk, 1 wild pitch. However, he's thrown 46 pitches (28 strikes) in 2 innings. Averaging 23 pitches an inning will undoubtedly result in an early appearance by Voelker.

Iowa's bats are quiet thus far. One single and a HBP.

HR by Pepperdine in B1 has Pepperdine up 1-0; Iowa batting with 2 outs and a runner on 1st in T3. As I type this, Seegers singles to right. Two on (1st and 2nd) and two out.

EDIT: Tello walks. Based jammed for Anthony.

EDIT #2: Anthony walks. 1-1. Dorighi up - bases juiced.

EDIT #3: Dorighi works a walk after being down 0-2. Great AB. Iowa up 2-0. Hucksdorf at the plate.

EDIT #4: Hucksdorf works count to 3-2 after being down 0-2 but flies out. To B3 with Iowa up a run.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Pace of game is really quick.

After Seegers hit a solo shot in T5, Iowa is nursing a 3-1 lead in B6. Pepperdine has a runner on 1st and 1 out. Voelker is in his second inning of work. Radio guys saying that Voelker is pounding the strike zone.

EDIT #1: Voelker dances out of a 2 on - 1 out situation. Induces two straight ground balls and escapes with no damage. To T7. Iowa up 2. Would feel markedly better if they plate a couple of runs here. In T6, it was a quick 1-2-3 and Pepperdine's pitcher threw less than 10 pitches.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Neither team can draw blood in the 7th. Voelker with a 1-2-3 inning.

To T8 ... Iowa holding onto a 2 run lead.

 

[AuroraHawk]

BOOM. Sam Hojnar with a 3 run jack. Iowa up 6-1.
Petersen follows with a single. Iowa with a little momentum.

EDIT: Wild pick off throw allows Peterson to go from first to third.

EDIT #2: Frazier has two straight HR distance jacks that were barely foul.

EDIT #3: Pepperdine pitching is melting. 8-1 Iowa. Based loaded for the Hawks.

EDIT #4: Newsflash. Voelker is the real deal. Great effort by him. Hawks win 10-1.

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Hawks better get used to the fact that if they keep winning at this pace, they'll very rapidly move away from being the hunter and towards being the hunted. Hopefully they are prepared to handle it.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Brecht may grab the headlines (chicks dig a 100 mph fastball) but check out Voelker’s line yesterday.

5 IP, 1 hit, 2 walks, 0 runs, 17 batters faced and 58 pitches.

Brecht threw 81 pitches in 4 innings to 18 batters.

For the season, Voelker’s given up a mere 2 runs in 14+ IP. Really nice acquisition by Heller and his staff.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Hawks better get used to the fact that if they keep winning at this pace, they'll very rapidly move away from being the hunter and towards being the hunted. Hopefully they are prepared to handle it.

d1 Baseball has Iowa #23 in its rankings this week.
Texas Tech fell out of d1 Baseball's top 25.

Hunter is now the hunted.

EDIT: Coaches' poll has Iowa at #27; Texas Tech is #21.