The Hawkeyes rallied back from a deficit for the second straight day, but again came up short. They've now been swept three times in Big Ten play this year.
Iowa baseball was on the wrong end of the spectrum in Lincoln this weekend, falling to the rival No. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers, 8-6, at Haymarket Park on Sunday.
The Hawkeyes have been swept in three Big Ten series this season, and now sit at 29-21 overall and 12-15 in league action.
What Happened?
Iowa was desperate for a fast start, and it got just that. Kooper Schulte has been a great addition in the leadoff spot for Rick Heller, and it took him just two pitches to crush a solo homer to left field to give the Hawkeyes a 1-0 lead.
Caleb Wulf tacked on another run with an RBI single to increase Iowa's edge to 2-0. This allowed Iowa starting pitcher Logan Runde to have immediate run support, but shutting down a powerful Husker lineup wouldn't be easy.
Runde loaded the bases in the first and walked Joshua Overbeek home to get Nebraska on the board. The Huskers continued that momentum into the second, and Will Jesske gave the home team the lead with a solo shot, knocking Runde out of the game.
Cole Moore replaced Runde, but he issued a solo shot to Jett Buck in the bottom of the third. That gave Nebraska a 4-2 lead and completely ignited Haymarket Park.
That was just the beginning of Moore's problems. He attempted to pick off Trey Fikes at first, but the throw sailed over the head of first baseman Wulf, and Fikes took third base. Rhett Stokes made Moore pay by ripping an RBI single on the next pitch, and Moore's day ended shortly thereafter.
Anyone who witnessed Saturday's 15-11 game knew the Hawkeyes wouldn't go down quietly. Iowa loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth innings, and the second time ultimately was the charm. A hit-by-pitch and a walk helped bring the runners in scoring position, and Ben Swails knocked in a pair with a two-out single to tie the game at 5.
The contest remained tied at 5 in the seventh inning, but it looked like the Hawkeyes would be the team to break the seal. Iowa had runners at second and third with no one out, but couldn't get the go-ahead run home.
Nebraska made the Hawkeyes pay in the home half of the frame. Iowa appeared to escape the inning, but a Jaixen Frost error allowed the Huskers to score three and take an 8-5 lead.
Schulte fired back in the eighth with his second homer of the game, but the seventh inning proved to be the difference in the contest.
Up Next
Iowa returns to action next weekend for its final series of the regular season. The Hawkeyes will take on Purdue in a three-game set at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa from May 14-16.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io