Iowa baseball looking to defense, pitching as season approaches

IOWA CITY - At the base of every successful team, therein lays a basic, underlying philosophy.

For the Hawkeye baseball team and, more specifically, its fourth-year head coach Rick Heller, the foundation for a good season is pretty simple.

'We like to talk about the hitting and the fact we've scored runs and put up some pretty good numbers offensively,” Heller said during the team's media day Friday. 'But what we hang our hat on  and what's won us a lot of games  is our pitching and defense.”

Last season, Iowa posted a team ERA of 3.56 and a fielding percentage of .978, which ranked fourth and second in the Big Ten, respectively. The Hawkeyes have finished in the top 15 nationally in fielding percentage each of the past two seasons and Heller believes this year's team has similar potential.

Newly minted Friday starter Nick Gallagher (2.57 ERA) returns, as does C.J. Eldred (3.34 ERA) who will take over the Saturday spot.

'I think we have a chance to be one of the best 1-2 punches in the country,” Eldred said. 'I really do.”

Both right-handers, Eldred pitched 94.1 innings last year while Gallagher was in for 63. The pair combined for 122 strikeouts and an 11-11 record.

Gallagher's velocity has increased and now throwing in the low 90s, the junior from Iowa City feels that he has made a leap from what was a tremendous sophomore campaign.

'I did a lot of weighted-ball stuff over the summer and my mechanics got a lot better,” Gallagher said. 'It should help me stay healthier and be able to go deeper into games.”

As for the Sunday starter? Heller said that is to be determined over the next few weeks and said he has 3-4 guys. It seems as if he's going to take time with the decision, but that's to be expected. Iowa uses a ton of different pitchers - 11 players saw 18 or more innings last year - and as Heller said, he's going to 'let it shake out.”

Fielding wise, Iowa will be breaking in a number of new players this year. The Hawkeyes lost stud shortstop Nick Roscetti last year, though Heller was confident Mason McCoy will be able to fill his shoes. Junior college transfer Jake Adams also will make his Hawkeye debut at first base and was another player the coaching staff seems excited about. Adams is also a power hitter and hit 25 home runs last season for DMACC.

Things, however, will be flexible early in the season and next week's trip to Tampa, Fla., for a three-game series with South Florida will be huge in figuring out some of the lineups.

Heller is also hoping it shows that his team will live up to his lofty expectations for the defense.

l Comments: jordan.hansen@thegazette.com