*****Official IOWA at Northwestern Games Thread (May 18-20)*****

[Franisdaman]

Northwestern is sitting at the bottom of the B1G standings. The Hawks are currently considered a 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament. They need to prove it by taking care of business this week/weekend.

There is no midweek game this week for Iowa.

Right now, as you can see in the standings below, there is clear separation between the top 9 teams (the top 8 make the B1G Tournament) and the bottom 4. Iowa, however, has just a 1/2 game lead over Michigan, Nebraska and Rutgers.

All of the top 6 teams in the B1G are on the road starting Thursday:

Indiana at Michigan State
Maryland at Penn State
Iowa at Northwestern
Michigan at Ohio State
Nebraska at Purdue
Rutgers at Minnesota


The B1G Tournament is Tuesday May 23- Sunday May 28.

Iowa's 3 game schedule:

Thur May 18
4:00 pm CT
Streaming: B1G Plus

Fri May 19
4:00 pm CT
Streaming: B1G Plus

Sat May 20
1:00 pm CT
Streaming: B1G Plus



CURRENT STANDINGS (from @Alum-Ni 's thread)
.........................................Games
...........................................Back

1. Indiana (38-14, 15-6).......--
1. Maryland (35-18, 15-6)...--
3. Iowa (37-12, 13-7)...........1.5

4. Michigan (26-22, 13-8)....2
4. Neb (29-20-1, 13-8).........2
4. Rutgers (32-19, 13-8).......2

7. Illinois (23-24, 12-12)
8. Michigan State (29-19, 10-11)
8. Purdue (23-27, 10-11)

..........................................................

10. Minnesota (15-33, 8-13)
11. Penn State (24-22, 6-14)
12. Ohio State (28-25, 6-15)
13. Northwestern (8-38, 3-18)


To listen to the game live, here are a couple options:

(1) Click on this link and scroll down to "Listen Live: Iowa at Northwestern"

Baseball

The Official Athletic Site of the Iowa Hawkeyes, partner of WMT Digital. The most comprehensive coverage of Iowa Hawkeyes Baseball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters.

hawkeyesports.com

(2) Varsity Network app:

For any Learfield game broadcast, you can listen to the pregame show, the game & the postgame show for free.

The steps:

* Download "The Varsity Network" app.

* For iPhone users, GO HERE:

‎The Varsity Network

‎The Varsity Network is your audio home for live and on-demand college sports broadcasts. Hear live play-by-play and keep up with your favorite college sports audio broadcast. Download The Varsity Network App today and never miss a minute of action no matter where you are listening.

apps.apple.com

* For Android users, GO HERE:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sidearmsports.varsitynetwork.audio&hl=en_US&gl=US


* Set up your account

* Simply select "The University of Iowa" as the school you want to listen to.

* Under Upcoming streams you will see links for the games.

* If Learfield is broadcasting the show or game (football, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, Hawk Talk with Kirk, Fran, or Lisa, etc), you can listen here.

* This is app only (the Varsity Network does not have a website to go to and listen).

* There are ON DEMAND podcasts; check that tab out.

 

[ssckelley]

Northwestern is terrible, they have no pitching and about 2 hitters to worry about in their lineup. That said sweeping any team on the road is tough to do. If Iowa were to win on Friday that's going to make me immediately check the scoreboard to see if Maryland and Indiana won as well. They are both playing for the regular season title, Maryland has the easiest path playing at PSU who has nothing to play for outside of pride. But Indiana playing at MSU could be interesting as MSU is playing for their tournament life being tied with Purdue for the 8th seed.

Iowa needs to sweep Northwestern and hope both Indiana and Maryland lose 2 of 3. Extremely unlikely.

 

[Franisdaman]

Northwestern is terrible, they have no pitching and about 2 hitters to worry about in their lineup. That said sweeping any team on the road is tough to do. If Iowa were to win on Friday that's going to make me immediately check the scoreboard to see if Maryland and Indiana won as well. They are both playing for the regular season title, Maryland has the easiest path playing at PSU who has nothing to play for outside of pride. But Indiana playing at MSU could be interesting as MSU is playing for their tournament life being tied with Purdue for the 8th seed.

Iowa needs to sweep Northwestern and hope both Indiana and Maryland lose 2 of 3. Extremely unlikely.

I just hope Iowa doesn't lose its current 3 seed in the B1G Tournament. For that to occur, all that has to happen is Iowa going 2-1 (falling to 15-8) and Mich or Neb or Rutgers going 3-0 (improving to 16-8).

Right now:

......................................Games out
......................................of 1st Place

3. Iowa (37-12, 13-7)...........1.5

4. Michigan (26-22, 13-8)....2
4. Neb (29-20-1, 13-8).........2
4. Rutgers (32-19, 13-8).......2

 

[BigOHawk]

I just hope Iowa doesn't lose its current 3 seed in the B1G Tournament. For that to occur, all that has to happen is Iowa going 2-1 (falling to 15-8) and Mich or Neb or Rutgers going 3-0 (improving to 16-8).

Right now:

......................................Games out
......................................of 1st Place

3. Iowa (37-12, 13-7)...........1.5

4. Michigan (26-22, 13-8)....2
4. Neb (29-20-1, 13-8).........2
4. Rutgers (32-19, 13-8).......2

Exactly and then that 4/5 game plays both Tuesday and Wed regardless of result. 3 seed gets a day off Wednesday if it wins Tuesday which would really help a bullpen!

Although checkout this little tidbit in the bracket...soo....Indiana would get to pick the day of its game??

Bracket
The No. 1 seed will indicate their preference of competing in Game 3 or Game 4 Dates and times subject to change; all times CT

 

[Franisdaman]

Exactly and then that 4/5 game plays both Tuesday and Wed regardless of result. 3 seed gets a day off Wednesday if it wins Tuesday which would really help a bullpen!

Although checkout this little tidbit in the bracket...soo....Indiana would get to pick the day of its game??

Bracket
The No. 1 seed will indicate their preference of competing in Game 3 or Game 4 Dates and times subject to change; all times CT

Maryland swept Indiana this season and the games weren't close (13-2; 16-2; 14-8). So, if MD and IU remain tied, MD gets the 1 seed, of course.

All 3 Indiana at MSU games are on BTN TV. Not sure how that is fair but since MSU is batting to make the B1G Tournament, I guess that's why that decision was made.

 

[Franisdaman]

Been a long 6 years....

 

[dconifer]

Unfortunately, your RPI is likely going to plummet just for stepping on the field with NU three times. Such is life in the B1G…

 

[ssckelley]

Northwestern just beat Notre Dame

 

[AuroraHawk]

Northwestern just beat Notre Dame

Game played at Wrigley Field.

For Notre Dame it was a (-6) RPI with a win and (-57) RPI for a loss. ND drops 6 spots on RPI ladder with the loss.

That will come close to mirroring the RPI impact of the Iowa/Northwestern games on Thr-Sat.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Northwestern just beat Notre Dame

Doesn't look like a team ready to throw in the towel on the season. Take note, Hawkeyes. Take note.

 

[ssckelley]

Game played at Wrigley Field.

For Notre Dame it was a (-6) RPI with a win and (-57) RPI for a loss. ND drops 6 spots on RPI ladder with the loss.

That will come close to mirroring the RPI impact of the Iowa/Northwestern games on Thr-Sat.

Very painful loss for ND who is trying to get an at large themselves.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Very painful loss for ND who is trying to get an at large themselves.

Notre Dame beat NW earlier this season 12-0 in South Bend. Last night, the Irish led 5-0 before giving up 5 runs in B4. Irish then led 7-5 but gave up 2 runs in B8.

Northwestern gave IU everything it could handle in three straight games two weekends ago.

Senior Day on Saturday.
Last games of the season for Northwestern.
Chance to play spoiler.
Zero pressure.
No need to “save” arms.

Iowa riding high after MSU sweep.
Iowa now mentioned as very likely at-large team.
Iowa going on road to play a team that is dead last and has lost 15 straight B1G games.
Iowa’s best hitter and a key relief pitcher remain out.

Classic trap series. If the Hawkeyes have any thoughts of “we can just show up and win,” they need to exorcise those thoughts immediately.

 

[BigOHawk]

Yikes, not a good look for ND!

This might be the best thing to happen so Heller can pull the game tape and show the Iowa players that this team won't just roll over for them, Go Hawks!

 

[BigOHawk]

Doesn't look like a team ready to throw in the towel on the season. Take note, Hawkeyes. Take note.

View embedded media

THAT is a crushing loss for ND, went from 46 to 52 RPI and pundits will remember that loss. Wow.

 

[Franisdaman]

This 3 game series is it for Northwestern. All they have left to play for is pride, being a spoiler and honoring their seniors on Saturday.

Right now Iowa is projected no worse than a 3 seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Yesterday, however, Field of 64 projected Iowa as a 2 seed.

 

[Franisdaman]

Yikes, not a good look for ND!

This might be the best thing to happen so Heller can pull the game tape and show the Iowa players that this team won't just roll over for them, Go Hawks!

Baseball America just came out with their NCAA Tournament projections. Notre Dame is now projected as one of the very last teams in.

Iowa continues to be a 3 seed. Indiana & Maryland are 2 seeds.

Rutgers sure has a lot to play for as well, as they continue to be a bubble team.

Last Four In​

TCU
UC Irvine
Notre Dame
Southern California

First Four Out​

Xavier
North Carolina State
Rutgers
Texas-San Antonio

Next Four Out​

Missouri
Georgia
UNC Wilmington
Georgia Tech

Bids By Conference​

10: SEC
8: ACC
7: Big 12
6: Pac-12
4: Sun Belt
3: Big Ten, Big West


Projected Field of 64:

Winston-Salem, N.C.		Terre Haute, Ind.
1. (1) Wake Forest*^		1. (16) Indiana State^*
2. East Carolina*		2. Tennessee
3. UC Irvine		3. Iowa
4. Davidson*		4. Wright State*
Fayetteville, Ark.		Dallas
1. (2) Arkansas^*		1. (15) Dallas Baptist^*
2. Oklahoma State		2. Texas
3. Southern California		3. Texas A&M
4. Oral Roberts*		4. Sam Houston State*
Gainesville, Fla.		Brighton, Mass.
1. (3) Florida^		1. (14) Boston College^
2. Oregon		2. Connecticut*
3. Florida Gulf Coast*		3. Northeastern*
4. Maine*		4. Army*
Baton Rouge, La.		Columbia, S.C.
1. (4) LSU^		1. (13) South Carolina^
2. Southern Miss		2. Duke
3. TCU		3. Texas Tech
4. Nicholls State*		4. Mercer*
Stanford, Calif.		Coral Gables, Fla.
1. (5) Stanford^*		1. (12) Miami^
2. Auburn		2. Alabama
3. UC Santa Barbara		3. Kansas State
4. Loyola Marymount*		4. Central Connecticut State*
Clemson, S.C.		Lexington, Ky.
1. (6) Clemson^		1. (11) Kentucky^
2. Campbell*		2. Indiana
3. Oklahoma		3. Notre Dame
4. Air Force*		4. Morehead State*
Morgantown, W.V.		Charlottesville, Va.
1. (7) West Virginia^*		1. (10) Virginia^
2. Oregon State		2. Maryland*
3. Texas State		3. Cal State Fullerton*
4. Kent State*		4. Pennsylvania*
Conway, S.C.		Nashville
1. (8) Coastal Carolina^*		1. (9) Vanderbilt^
2. North Carolina		2. Washington
3. Arizona State		3. Troy
4. Fairfield*		4. Alabama State*

2023 NCAA Tournament Projected Field of 64 (5/17/23) — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America

It’s crunch time around college baseball. Teams will have very few opportunities to improve their standing. Most teams have just one regular-season series remaining before the frenetic week of conference tournaments begins.

www.baseballamerica.com

 

[BigOHawk]

Rutgers tournament fate will rest in the BTT, they may end up with a better RPI and resume that last year and STILL not get in!

 

[Franisdaman]

Very painful loss for ND who is trying to get an at large themselves.

Here are D1 Baseball's projections from today.

Iowa is a 3 seed. Maryland and Indiana are 2 seeds. Rutgers is on the bubble.

Notre Dame is a 3 seed.

Last 4 in, First 4 out, from strongest to weakest:

61. UC Irvine
62. Oklahoma
63. Arizona State
64. TCU
—–CUTOFF—–
65. Texas State
66. Georgia Tech
67. Rutgers
68. Louisiana


Bids:
10: SEC
8: ACC
7: Big 12
6: Pac-12
3: Sun Belt, Big West and Big Ten
2: The Colonial


2023 Field of 64 Projections: Week 14

WINSTON-SALEM		CORVALLIS
1 Wake Forest* (1)		1 Oregon State (16)
4 Maine*		4 Air Force*
2 Connecticut*		2 Maryland*
3 UC Irvine		3 Cal State Fullerton*
FAYETTEVILLE		DURHAM
1 Arkansas* (2)		1 Duke (15)
4 Little Rock*		4 UNC Wilmington*
2 Texas		2 Alabama
3 Oral Roberts*		3 Kansas State
GAINESVILLE		STILLWATER
1 Florida (3)		1 Oklahoma State (14)
4 Alabama State*		4 Sam Houston*
2 Oregon		2 Dallas Baptist*
3 Troy		3 Texas A&M
BATON ROUGE		CORAL GABLES
1 LSU (4)		1 Miami (13)
4 Nicholls*		4 Army*
2 Southern Miss		2 Washington
3 Oklahoma		3 Florida Gulf Coast*
STANFORD		CONWAY
1 Stanford* (5)		1 Coastal Carolina* (12)
4 Loyola Marymount*		4 Mercer*
2 Boston College		2 Auburn
3 UC Santa Barbara		3 TCU
MORGANTOWN		COLUMBIA
1 West Virginia* (6)		1 South Carolina (11)
4 Rider*		4 Central Connecticut State*
2 Tennessee		2 North Carolina
3 Notre Dame		3 Southern California
CLEMSON		LEXINGTON
1 Clemson (7)		1 Kentucky (10)
4 Davidson*		4 Wright State*
2 Campbell*		2 Indiana State*
3 Texas Tech		3 Iowa
NASHVILLE		CHARLOTTESVILLE
1 Vanderbilt (8)		1 Virginia (9)
4 Kent State*		4 Pennsylvania*
2 Indiana		2 East Carolina
3 Arizona State		3 Northeastern

D1Baseball Field of 64 Projections: May 17 • D1Baseball

The latest D1Baseball postseason projections are out with two new Top 16 hosts to go with one change in the top eight. Come check out the latest changes.

d1baseball.com

 

[Franisdaman]

The weather looks iffy for Friday.

Keep in mind just a 1/2 game separates 3rd place Iowa from 6th place.

Ideally it would be nice to get all 3 games in (and win all 3) so we don't have to start discussing tie breakers.

Right now:

......................................Games out
......................................of 1st Place

3. Iowa (37-12, 13-7)...........1.5

4. Michigan (26-22, 13-8)....2
4. Neb (29-20-1, 13-8).........2
4. Rutgers (32-19, 13-8).......2



Current Weather Forecast for Evanston, IL (from The Weather Channel):

Thursday May 18 (1st pitch at 4:00 CT)
No Rain, high of 66, winds 10-15 mph

Fri May 19 (1st pitch at 4:00 CT)
Rain starting at 5 am and continuing into the afternoon. High of 65. Winds 5-10 mph

Sat May 20 (1st pitch at 1:00 CT)
Mostly sunny. High of 62. Winds 10-15 mph

 

[BigOHawk]

The weather looks iffy for Friday.

Keep in mind just a 1/2 game separates 3rd place Iowa from 6th place.

Ideally it would be nice to get all 3 games in (and win all 3) so we don't have to start discussing tie breakers.

Right now:

......................................Games out
......................................of 1st Place

3. Iowa (37-12, 13-7)...........1.5

4. Michigan (26-22, 13-8)....2
4. Neb (29-20-1, 13-8).........2
4. Rutgers (32-19, 13-8).......2



Current Weather Forecast for Evanston, IL (from The Weather Channel):

Thursday May 18 (1st pitch at 4:00 CT)
No Rain, high of 66, winds 10-15 mph

Fri May 19 (1st pitch at 4:00 CT)
Rain starting at 5 am and continuing into the afternoon. High of 65. Winds 5-10 mph

Sat May 20 (1st pitch at 1:00 CT)
Mostly sunny. High of 62. Winds 10-15 mph

Maybe I take back the post about a rain dance given the closeness of the B10 standings. Sure a rainout helps the RPI most likely (no game) but allows others to move up the pecking order in B10 and pushes us out of 3 seed, which is where we want to be given the BTT schedule and getting a day off Wed after a Tuesday win...

 

[Franisdaman]

Nice story previewing the series. Click on "game notes" below to take you to it.

 

[ssckelley]

Yeah I don’t even get why Notre Dame even played that game yesterday as they had nothing to gain. Maybe they were forced too since they had Wrigley Field locked down as a venue.

 

[Franisdaman]

Maybe I take back the post about a rain dance given the closeness of the B10 standings. Sure a rainout helps the RPI most likely (no game) but allows others to move up the pecking order in B10 and pushes us out of 3 seed, which is where we want to be given the BTT schedule and getting a day off Wed after a Tuesday win...

Yeah, lets say Iowa goes 2-0 with one game rained out. That puts Iowa at plus eight, 15-7 (.682). If Michigan or Nebraska or Rutgers goes 3-0, that would also put them at plus eight, 16-8 (.667). I would think we'd hang on to 3rd place unless the tie breakers say otherwise. And like I said before, I would rather not have tie breakers determine the seedings for the B1G Tourney.

 

[BigOHawk]

-13/-66 on the RPI ladder today, I hate even typing that!

Some decent indirect points out there if things break our way.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

The weather looks iffy for Friday.

Keep in mind just a 1/2 game separates 3rd place Iowa from 6th place.

Ideally it would be nice to get all 3 games in (and win all 3) so we don't have to start discussing tie breakers.

Right now:

......................................Games out
......................................of 1st Place

3. Iowa (37-12, 13-7)...........1.5

4. Michigan (26-22, 13-8)....2
4. Neb (29-20-1, 13-8).........2
4. Rutgers (32-19, 13-8).......2



Current Weather Forecast for Evanston, IL (from The Weather Channel):

Thursday May 18 (1st pitch at 4:00 CT)
No Rain, high of 66, winds 10-15 mph

Fri May 19 (1st pitch at 4:00 CT)
Rain starting at 5 am and continuing into the afternoon. High of 65. Winds 5-10 mph

Sat May 20 (1st pitch at 1:00 CT)
Mostly sunny. High of 62. Winds 10-15 mph

The only weather issues thru Saturday in Evanston continue to be with tomorrow. Right now the rain is predicted from 7:00 am CT until 3:00 pm CT. Tomorrow's game is scheduled for a 4:00 pm CT first pitch.

 

[Franisdaman]

-13/-66 on the RPI ladder today, I hate even typing that!

Some decent indirect points out there if things break our way.

Going 3-0 vs Northwestern but then not winning a game in the B1G Tournament would make me a little uneasy....

 

[AuroraHawk]

Root for KSU to beat TCU this weekend. Would be nice if that KSU win turns into a Q1 win instead of a Q2 win.

Nebraska taking 2 of 3 against Purdue gives them a fighting chance to get into top 100 RPI and would give Iowa 3 more Q2 wins instead of Q3 wins.

 

[Franisdaman]

Click on the play button to listen to the radio broadcast (the pregame show should be starting around 3:45 pm CT)

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Northwestern's starting pitcher (Farinelli) has a 9.12 ERA. Yikes.

 

[Franisdaman]

Click on the play button to listen to the radio broadcast (the pregame show should be starting around 3:45 pm CT)

View embedded media

it just now started streaming....

 

[AuroraHawk]

Walks kill.
Tello makes NW pay.
Edit: Hojnar makes ‘em pay as well.

 

[Franisdaman]

Top of the 1st:

Once again Iowa has a rally w/ 2 outs.

Check this out:

The 3rd batter, Dorighi, walks.
Tello doubles to CF, scoring Dorighi (Video below)
Hojnar singles, scoring Tello
Hojnar steals 2nd
Seegers walked
With runners on 1st and 2nd, Huckstorf struck out looking


Northwestern is as bad as advertised (check out the horrible throw to home)

After 1/2 inning, Iowa leads 2-0.

 

[AuroraHawk]

Morgan pitching from wind-up.
In last game, he abandoned wind-up for stretch because he struggled throwing strikes.

 

[Franisdaman]

Top of 2nd:

with one out, Moss Singles
Wilmes walked; Moss to 2nd
Wilmes stole 2nd; Moss stole 3rd
Petersen sac flies; Moss scored; Wilmes to 3rd
Dorighi grounds out

Hawks now lead 3-0

Heading to Bottom of 2nd

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Northwestern base runner?

No problem

And check out the extremely poor base running

 

[Franisdaman]

Top of 3rd:

Walks continue to kill N'western (4 so far)

With one out, Hojnar walks; he then steals 2nd
Seegers singles him in
Seegers steals 2nd
Huckstorf struck out swinging
Frazier reaches on ERROR; Seegers scores
Moss strikes out swinging

5-0 Iowa

Heading to bottom of 3rd

 

[AuroraHawk]

In case anyone is interested, Maryland went up 3-0 in T2 and then gave up 7 runs to PSU in B2. PSU up 7-3 in B3.