For the first time in six years, Iowa Hawkeyes baseball took part in the NCAA Tournament.
So far, so good.
Though he worked around trouble, Iowa right-handed pitcher Marcus Morgan threw five innings of two-hit, one-run baseball versus North Carolina to key the 5-4 win.
The sophomore struck out five to work around four walks and leave six Tar Heel runners stranded. In the first, Morgan induced a fly out and a ground out from UNC juniors Tomas Frick and Hunter Stokely to strand a pair aboard.
Then, in the fourth, Morgan avoided the big inning. With the bases loaded, Morgan got North Carolina’s Alberto Osuna to fly out to center for a sacrifice fly. Then, after a hit by pitch of UNC’s Colby Wilkerson, Cook grounded out to end the threat.
Meanwhile, redshirt junior second baseman Sam Hojnar got the party started offensively right away with a two-out double into left field to plate fifth-year senior first baseman Brennen Dorighi and sophomore left fielder Sam Petersen. Just like that it was 2-0 Iowa.
The Hawkeyes extended their lead to three runs when redshirt junior right fielder Brayden Frazier and junior catcher Cade Moss delivered a one-out single and double, respectively, to put a pair in scoring position. Sophomore designated hitter Ben Wilmes’ infield single plated Frazier to pad the Iowa lead at 3-0.
The Hawks tacked on a pair of what proved to be game-winning insurance runs in the eighth with a Frazier RBI single to bring home junior shortstop Michael Seegers and a RBI sacrifice bunt from Moss to plate redshirt junior center fielder Kyle Huckstorf. That made it a 5-1 Iowa advantage.
It grew plenty stressful late, though. The Hawkeyes turned to redshirt junior reliever Will Cristophersen to record the game’s final three outs. It didn’t go according to plan.
Cristophersen walked the first batter he saw, North Carolina’s Johnny Castagnozzi. Osuna promptly delivered a two-run blast to halve the deficit. After Wilkerson singled, Christophersen induced a ground ball fielder’s choice to get the inning’s first out at second base.
After UNC’s Mac Horvath walked, Iowa made the decision to look Luke Llewellyn’s direction to save the day.
Jackson Van De Brake doubled to bring North Carolina back within one run, but Llewellyn calmly responded by striking out Frick and Stokely to send Iowa into the winners’ bracket. The Hawkeyes will meet host Indiana State at 5 p.m. Saturday night from Bob Warn Field.
As you’d expect, Twitter was jumping for joy and then pulling its hair out late. In the end, Hawkeye Nation was more than happy with how things turned out.
Here’s the best social media reactions.
The first lineup to Omaha!
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ข๐บ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ป๐ผ๐.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/CTjRVS5rGf
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 2, 2023
Why not us??
WHY NOT US? LETโS RIDE @UIBaseball #Hawkeyes #Hellerball #RoadToOmaha pic.twitter.com/94AT5nI94m
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) June 2, 2023
There's a first time for everything
Can confirm Iโve never tuned in to ACCN until today.
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) June 2, 2023
Hello ACC Network that Iโve never watched.
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 2, 2023
And it's a fast start for Iowa!
๐๐ผ๐ท ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ธ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ!!
A two-RBI double from @shojnar gives the #Hawkeyes the early lead.
E1 | Iowa 2, UNC 0 pic.twitter.com/G2rTXygxav
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 2, 2023
LETS GOOOOOO
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 2, 2023
๐๐ป ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) June 2, 2023
Sam Hojnar: The pride of Western Springs, Illinois.
— Sean Bock (@SBock247) June 2, 2023
Cade Moss, Ben Wilmes combine to make it 3-0
Cade Moss, elite speed.
— Dargan Southard (@Dargan_Southard) June 2, 2023
Letโs go! Wilmes gets an infield single to bring home another and itโs 3-0 in the bottom of 2 with 1 down and runners and 1st and 3rd.
— Black Heart Gold pain (@BHGP) June 2, 2023
IN PLAY, RUN(S): a Wilmes grounder up the middle plates one, UNC has no play at first and Iowa has runners at the corners with a 3-0 lead!
Tremendous start to the postseason proceedings for the black and gold.
— Go Iowa Awesome (@IowaAwesome) June 2, 2023
What a Friday night
Life is good. #gohawks pic.twitter.com/h2o6iRefY9
— Gary Koerner (@koerner_gary) June 3, 2023
A nervy fourth
Morgan's second walk of the inning loads the bases with 1 out, and he nearly plunks Osuna with the very next pitch. ๐ฌ
Morgan up to 69 pitches, and a double play would be nice here.
— Go Iowa Awesome (@IowaAwesome) June 3, 2023
Sigh of relief
whew
— Evan Baedke (@HawkatHeart) June 3, 2023
Thought Rick Heller might go to the pen, but he sticks with Marcus Morgan, who buckles down and keeps Iowa in front, 3-1, mid-4th.
— Chad Leistikow (@ChadLeistikow) June 3, 2023
Good job, Marcus
๐๐ฐ๐ญ๐ช๐ฅ ๐ด๐ต๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ @Marcus_Morgan20 ๐#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/Usw9eIrwVO
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 3, 2023
Jack Whitlock gets it done from the 'pen
1โฃ – 2๏ธโฃ – 3๏ธโฃ for @Jackwhitlock19 and Co #Hawkeyes lead 3-1 and its time to stretch. pic.twitter.com/78SigQkcw7
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 3, 2023
Hawks look sharp, too
Look, I love the gold script Iowa jerseys as much as anyone.
But these clean white jerseys are TIGHT!— Hawkeye Elvis (@HawkeyeElvis) June 3, 2023
Double play ends the eighth
๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ญ '๐๐ฆ@GableMitchell13 turns โ๏ธ#RoadToOmaha x ๐ฅ: ACCN pic.twitter.com/A9Q5iylaNP
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 3, 2023
And the crowd goes wild
boom!
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) June 3, 2023
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!
— Evan Baedke (@HawkatHeart) June 3, 2023
YES SIR!
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 3, 2023
Double play boom boom ๐ฅ
— katie๐ซ (@katiejo_ia) June 3, 2023
HellerBall insurance!
#HellerBall goes regional@cademoss17 with the sacrifice ๐คฉ#RoadToOmaha x ๐ฅ: ACCN pic.twitter.com/l5DbJuYkCz
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 3, 2023
Llewellyn DELIVERS
LLEWELLYN ONIONS
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) June 3, 2023
Just like we planned it
Had em all the way!
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 3, 2023
Got 'em!
GOT EMMMM!!!!! YESSIR
— Felts (PAIN) (@Zhawk44) June 3, 2023
A rising candidate emerges
Heller for President! โพ๏ธ๐ฅ#gohawks
— Gary Koerner (@koerner_gary) June 3, 2023
Strike 3!
strike 3! hawks win
heaven no beer!
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) June 3, 2023
You know the drill
*Clears throat*
HEAVEN NO ๐บ!
— Ed Podolakโs Mustache (@edsstache) June 3, 2023
IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER.
— Trip Manfro ๐๐บ๐๐บ (@pfac51) June 3, 2023
See you tomorrow night!
๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐'๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐ป!#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/NtuImmux39
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 3, 2023
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