IOWA FALLS TO RUTGERS; GAME TWO OPEN THREAD

Playing on the road is never fun, especially on short rest and in Jersey. Iowa fell to Rutgers 5-3 yesterday afternoon as starting pitcher Tyler Peyton lasted only 3 2/3 innings for the Hawks. Meanwhile, Scarlet Knights starter Howie Brey threw a complete game, allowing three earned runs on 121 pitches. In the fourth, consecutive singles from Grant Klenovich, Nick Roscetti, and Jimmy Frankos loaded the bases with one out for Joel Booker. Booker grounded out, scoring Klenovich but Nick Day followed with a flyout to squander the Hawkeye threat. As Coach Heller mentioned in his postgame, "it just wasn't to be" for the Hawkeyes yesterday.

I talked yesterday about the conference race and the margin between a Hawkeye regular season championship and a second place finish. Iowa's loss coupled with an Illinois win over Nebraska (damn you, Huskers!) sends the regular season crown to Champaign as the Illini have now won 25 straight. Iowa's 18-4 conference record is more than remarkable -- it's championship-caliber any other year.

Game Two

Info: 12pm CT first pitch from Bainton Field in Piscataway, N.J.

Media: Big Ten Plus and Gametracker

Pitching Matchup: Iowa's Blake Hickman (8-1,2.93) vs. TBA (AGAIN)