Iowa Baseball Falls to UCLA in Big Ten Semifinals

OMAHA, Nebraska – The University of Iowa baseball team, seeded third, lost to the second-seeded UCLA Bruins, 9-3, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday. The match took place at Charles Schwab Field, marking Iowa’s final game of the tournament.

Iowa struggled offensively, achieving only five hits and batting .161. They stranded five base runners during the game. In contrast, UCLA showcased a more powerful offense, recording 14 hits with a .424 batting average and five extra-base hits.

After the game, Iowa head coach Rick Heller reflected on the team’s performance. “The game didn’t go how we wanted it to. With how the wind was blowing today at the ballpark, we were hoping to keep it close until late innings,” Heller said. “But UCLA is a very good team and had a great day.”

UCLA jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the third inning, adding five more runs in the fourth, highlighted by a three-run home run. Iowa responded in the fifth inning with a two-run homer by fifth-year player Anthony Nelson, bringing them on the board. The Bruins later extended their lead with additional runs in the sixth and eighth innings.

The Hawkeyes continued to fight, with Ben Norman singling in the ninth inning to score another run, but ultimately fell short. Nelson led Iowa, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Iowa’s starting pitcher, Aaron Savary, took the loss after allowing seven runs over 3.1 innings. The bullpen contributed with five pitchers combining for six strikeouts.

As they exit the tournament, Iowa’s overall record stands at 33-21-1, including a 21-9 mark in the Big Ten. Despite their struggles, the team had shown promise during the season, especially earlier when they led the conference before a late-season slump.

UCLA, on the other hand, advanced to the championship game, continuing their successful season and maintaining their pursuit for an NCAA Tournament bid. Their offensive depth and strong pitching have made them a formidable opponent throughout the tournament.