Current RPI Ranking: #13 - Iowa is 39 points behind #12 Arkansas and 47 points ahead of #14 Illinois.
RPI Metrics: Iowa win (-31 points); Iowa loss (-244 points).
First pitch - 2:00 p.m.
Locale: Creekside Baseball Complex, Parkville, MO: https://creeksidebaseball.com/complex-map/ I noted the following . . . Creekside is home to 6 high school sized baseball diamonds (my emphasis).
With Langenberg pitching an inning (and a rough one at that) on Wednesday, it is no surprise that Brody Brecht is "moved up" to be today's starter. Morgan slides into the first game on Sunday slot and Heller has not committed to who will start the second game on Sunday.
South Dakota State is a Q4 opponent. The RPIs of South Dakota State's opponents thus far: 253 (1-2), 238 (2-2), 257 (0-1) (Minnesota's first win of the year), 223 (0-3), 287 (0-1), 268 (1-0). Overall, SDS is 4-9 against all Q4 competition. Suffice it to write, Iowa will be their toughest competition to date - by far.
Hard to know who will take the mound for SDS in today's game. Their starters have been abysmal on Fridays:
Blake Kunz against Little Rock: 1 inning, 2 hits/2 walks/4 HBP/7 runs (7 earned) and 3 Ks
Jack Kruger against Utah Tech: .2 inning, 2 hits/2 walks/1 HBP/5 runs (5 earned) and 1 K
Dylan Richey against Western Kentucky: 2.1 innings, 7 hits/1 walk/6 runs (5 earned) and 0 Ks
To be fair, Kruger pitched against Minnesota and put up a decent line: 6.2 innings, 5 hits/2 walks/2 runs (1 earned) and 4 Ks. But Kruger pitched 6+ innings/91 pitches on Tuesday against Lindenwood. He won't pitch today. I'd think that he'd be a candidate for Sunday's late game.
If I had to bet, I'm thinking that it will be Blake Kunz who throws today. https://gojacks.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-kunz/11813 Former TE on SDSU's football team. Big guy. 6'5" - 250. Probably throws hard (I'm guessing) but has some significant control issues. Pitched four no hit innings against Utah State on 3/5 but walked 7 and gave up 2 runs and threw 87 pitches. Sound familiar? I'm hoping it is Kunz as it would make a really interesting matchup between he and Brecht.
In any event . . . could be a weird game on a self-described "high school" field between two pitchers who have control problems. If Brecht can get ahead in counts, I expect him to plow through SDSU's lineup like he did last year against Bradley and this year against Quinnipiac. If Iowa's hitters are patient, they should have tons of opportunity to score runs. I could see Iowa's pitching staff dominate SDSU's lineup but I just don't see SDSU's pitching staff being able to hold down Iowa's offense. Put me down for Iowa scoring double digits today and for Keaton Anthony to break out of his slump with a HR and Iowa winning by 7 plus runs. (An easy Iowa baseball win + Iowa women's basketball administrating a beatdown will help cleanse the bad taste in my mouth left after last night's Iowa/Auburn game).
Looking ahead, I'm thinking that Langenberg will start Sunday's late game but that Obermueller will throw immediately afterwards. Wouldn't be surprised if this weekend marks the beginning of Brecht on Fridays with decisions to be made on Saturday/Sunday starters (i.e. which day will Morgan get and who will be the 3rd starting pitcher).
EDIT: Had I simply clicked on the link associated with the Tweet below, I would have seen that SDSU is going with Sophomore Alex Clemons today. He's a PVHS graduate from Bettendorf (1st team All-State). Hasn't started a game this year; was solely a reliever last year as a Freshman. Last two outings:
Utah State: 2 IP, 4 hits/3 walks/5 runs (5 earned)/3 Ks (54 pitches)
Western Kentucky: 2 IP, 4 hits/2 walks/5 runs (5 earned)/ 4 Ks (59 pitches)
Clemons' season ERA is 15.88.
Kunz is throwing the first game on Sunday.
RPI Metrics: Iowa win (-31 points); Iowa loss (-244 points).
First pitch - 2:00 p.m.
Locale: Creekside Baseball Complex, Parkville, MO: https://creeksidebaseball.com/complex-map/ I noted the following . . . Creekside is home to 6 high school sized baseball diamonds (my emphasis).
With Langenberg pitching an inning (and a rough one at that) on Wednesday, it is no surprise that Brody Brecht is "moved up" to be today's starter. Morgan slides into the first game on Sunday slot and Heller has not committed to who will start the second game on Sunday.
South Dakota State is a Q4 opponent. The RPIs of South Dakota State's opponents thus far: 253 (1-2), 238 (2-2), 257 (0-1) (Minnesota's first win of the year), 223 (0-3), 287 (0-1), 268 (1-0). Overall, SDS is 4-9 against all Q4 competition. Suffice it to write, Iowa will be their toughest competition to date - by far.
Hard to know who will take the mound for SDS in today's game. Their starters have been abysmal on Fridays:
Blake Kunz against Little Rock: 1 inning, 2 hits/2 walks/4 HBP/7 runs (7 earned) and 3 Ks
Jack Kruger against Utah Tech: .2 inning, 2 hits/2 walks/1 HBP/5 runs (5 earned) and 1 K
Dylan Richey against Western Kentucky: 2.1 innings, 7 hits/1 walk/6 runs (5 earned) and 0 Ks
To be fair, Kruger pitched against Minnesota and put up a decent line: 6.2 innings, 5 hits/2 walks/2 runs (1 earned) and 4 Ks. But Kruger pitched 6+ innings/91 pitches on Tuesday against Lindenwood. He won't pitch today. I'd think that he'd be a candidate for Sunday's late game.
If I had to bet, I'm thinking that it will be Blake Kunz who throws today. https://gojacks.com/sports/baseball/roster/blake-kunz/11813 Former TE on SDSU's football team. Big guy. 6'5" - 250. Probably throws hard (I'm guessing) but has some significant control issues. Pitched four no hit innings against Utah State on 3/5 but walked 7 and gave up 2 runs and threw 87 pitches. Sound familiar? I'm hoping it is Kunz as it would make a really interesting matchup between he and Brecht.
In any event . . . could be a weird game on a self-described "high school" field between two pitchers who have control problems. If Brecht can get ahead in counts, I expect him to plow through SDSU's lineup like he did last year against Bradley and this year against Quinnipiac. If Iowa's hitters are patient, they should have tons of opportunity to score runs. I could see Iowa's pitching staff dominate SDSU's lineup but I just don't see SDSU's pitching staff being able to hold down Iowa's offense. Put me down for Iowa scoring double digits today and for Keaton Anthony to break out of his slump with a HR and Iowa winning by 7 plus runs. (An easy Iowa baseball win + Iowa women's basketball administrating a beatdown will help cleanse the bad taste in my mouth left after last night's Iowa/Auburn game).
Looking ahead, I'm thinking that Langenberg will start Sunday's late game but that Obermueller will throw immediately afterwards. Wouldn't be surprised if this weekend marks the beginning of Brecht on Fridays with decisions to be made on Saturday/Sunday starters (i.e. which day will Morgan get and who will be the 3rd starting pitcher).
EDIT: Had I simply clicked on the link associated with the Tweet below, I would have seen that SDSU is going with Sophomore Alex Clemons today. He's a PVHS graduate from Bettendorf (1st team All-State). Hasn't started a game this year; was solely a reliever last year as a Freshman. Last two outings:
Utah State: 2 IP, 4 hits/3 walks/5 runs (5 earned)/3 Ks (54 pitches)
Western Kentucky: 2 IP, 4 hits/2 walks/5 runs (5 earned)/ 4 Ks (59 pitches)
Clemons' season ERA is 15.88.
Kunz is throwing the first game on Sunday.
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