Hawks improve to 11-2

IOWA CITY - The Iowa baseball team topped No. 25 Nebraska in a series opener Saturday thanks to is steadily-reliable pitching and defense - and from solid hitting, which has been surging the past few weeks.

But players said team leadership should have its place in that conversation, too.

Iowa (28-11), is off to its best start in 25 years and entered the game Saturday ranked 17th in the country by Collegiate Baseball. The Hawkeyes boast the fourth best team ERA and the second best fielding percentage in the Big Ten.

However, they also have two senior captains who are two of the Big Ten's best hitters in senior outfielder Eric Toole and second baseman Eric Mangler.

'They really do an awesome job keeping the energy up in the locker room, and also keeping up our confidence,” said junior shortstop Nick Roscetti, whose .419 batting average in Big Ten play ranks third in the conference. 'I know for me, they have the most experience, so it's nice just learning the game from them, and they also really help me stay focused and want to compete more.”

Toole and Mangler - mainstays in the top of the Hawkeye's batting order - lead an experienced Iowa team of about two-thirds upperclassman, which, they say, makes leadership a lot easier.

'For me, I just try to help guys when they need help; calm them down when they need that; fire them up when they need that,” Mangler said. 'It's just kind of finding a way to find a balance for everybody and keep everybody in the game.”

'I try to lead by example, the only thing I can do,” Toole said. 'Being a leadoff hitter and playing in center field, it's just making plays, playing hard, and hustling on and off the field. And just doing things the right way and working hard.”

Iowa continued to 'work hard” against Nebraska.

Junior Blake Hickman made his 11th start, entering with a 1.88 ERA and tied for a Big Ten best 4-0 conference record. He allowed two runs, while working into the sixth inning after the Hawkeyes gave him a three-run lead in the first.

Ryan Erickson got his seventh win in relief.

Mangler led the Hawkeyes with two hits and his team-leading 29th RBI of the season, while Roscetti added a two-run single in the first.

Iowa and Nebraska play a pair of games Sunday at Duane Banks Field, starting at noon.