Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller wants more innings and fewer pitches from his starting staff as the Hawkeyes get set to host Michigan in a three-game Big Ten series beginning Friday. In 21 combined starts, Brody Brecht, Marcus Morgan and Cade Obermueller are averaging just under four-and-two thirds innings of work.
“In a perfect world one of them is getting you through the seventh and the other two are getting through the sixth and that puts a lot less strain on your bullpen”, said Heller. “Until that happens we are going to have to keep finding guys to go in and get the job done.”
While the pitching has struggled the Hawkeyes are winning with offense. They are second in the Big Ten with a team batting average of .320 and lead the conference by averaging more than nine and-a-half runs per game. Iowa is 15-11 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
“The even more impressive thing as you look at those statistics is that we have seen a bunch of good arms this season. I’m really proud of that group.”
The Hawkeyes will be without two of their top three hitters against the Wolverines. Left fielder Sam Peterson is out with a lower leg injury and first baseman Andy Nelson suffered a hamstring injury in last weekend’s series against Minnesota.
“We are hopeful they will be back by the Ohio State series”, added Heller. “If not it should be the week after.”
Like Iowa, Michigan struggled early against a challenging non conference slate. The Wolverines are 12-17 overall but are 4-2 in the Big Ten after winning two of three against defending champion Maryland.