Dallas Baptist Tidbits
Dallas Baptist, the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley, return five starters from a 2015 squad that went 45-16 and boasted the nation's best RPI. Coached by Iowa City native Dan Heefner, who was a candidate for the Iowa head job in 2013, the Patriots return five starters entering 2016. Friday night's starter, LHP Colin Poche, is an Arkansas transfer and a former 5th round draft pick out of high school. Shortstop Camden Duzenack (.286) will man the infield alongside 3B Austin Listi. Listi missed all of 2015 due to injury but managed to mash 10 home runs in 2014, meaning his bat is one to watch this weekend. In the outfield, R-Jr. Justin Wall returns after a 2015 campaign that saw him blast 12 home runs and drive in 58 RBI. An early favorite for the 2016 All-Name team, DH Trooper Reynolds returns after hitting 9 home runs in 2015.
Where's the Patriot weakness? That may reside in the bullpen, where Dallas Baptist lost a "3rd, a 4th, and a 5th round pick" from 2015 according to D1Baseball. It's going to be tough to tap into the bullpen Friday night against Poche but the Hawkeyes may be able to Saturday against sophomore Dalton Higgins.
Series Matchups and Info
Game One: Dallas Baptist 5, Iowa 1 (FINAL)
Iowa: Sr. RHP Tyler Peyton (7-4, 3.03 ERA)
DBU: RS Jr. LHP Colin Poche (3-0, 1.37 ERA in 2014 at Arkansas)
Game Two: Dallas Baptist 7, Iowa 3 (FINAL)
Iowa: So. RHP Nick Gallagher (0-0, 2.18 ERA)
DBU: So. RHP Dalton Higgins (0-1, 2.95 ERA)
Game Three: Dallas Baptist (2-0) vs Iowa 0-2) 1:00 P.M. CT Sunday
Iowa: Sr. RHP Calvin Mathews (5-3, 2.45 ERA)
DBU: Jr. RHP Darick Hall (10-4, 2.09 ERA at Cochise College)
Following Along
All three games are available on Hawkeye All-Access ($), GameTracker, and DBU Patriots All-Access (Free).
Here's to hoping the Hawkeyes can get back to #Hellerball and begin 2016 with three wins! Go Hawks, baby!
We'll try to post updates in the comments, but feel free to post your own, too!