Yet another grand slam propels Iowa baseball to win over Michigan in Big Ten tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS — Nine grand slams this season. Nine!!

Opponents might want to just walk Iowa Hawkeyes hitters when the bases are loaded. Better to give up one run than four.

It was Brayden Frazier’s turn for one of those “grannies“ Tuesday morning in the first round of the Big Ten Conference Baseball Tournament at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.

The Cedar Rapids Jefferson grad’s grand slam capped a six-run fifth inning that broke a tie and allowed Iowa to eventually break Michigan, 13-3, in a game ended by 10-run mercy rule. Frazier went 3-for-5 in the game, including his long ball to left against Michigan starter and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Connor O’Halloran.

This was the first grand slam at the Big Ten tournament since 2017.

“I just got lucky and put a big swing on it,” Frazier said on the Big Ten Network. “If we’re going to hit grand slams, we’re going to keep doing it. No reason to stop now.”

Iowa hit the 40-win mark for the fifth time in program history. The third-seeded Hawkeyes (40-13) advance to a winner’s bracket game Thursday afternoon at 2 against second-seeded Indiana (41-16).

“Really proud of our guys and how they fought hard all day long,” Iowa Coach Rick Heller said. “The first five innings, we hit some balls hard but didn't get rewarded. We didn't have some things go our way. But we didn't play the victim and found a way to get it done. We kept to our plan, and finally broke through in the fifth.”

The entire fifth inning was the key to the game. It was a 1-1 game when Michigan (26-27) loaded the bases against Iowa starting pitcher Marcus Morgan with none out.

But Jack Whitlock came on in relief and picked up three consecutive strikeouts. In the bottom of the fifth, Sam Hojnar lined a two-run single to put Iowa ahead, with a single and hit by pitch loading the bases for Frazier.

All of Iowa’s fifth-inning runs came with two outs.

“We’ve been through this all year, man,” Frazier told Big Ten Network. “This offense, we don’t ever quit. I saw the stat the other day that we’re leading (the Big Ten) in two-out RBIs and two-out runs. That’s just been our mantra all year. Don’t ever stop, always do our 1-9s in every situation.”

Sam Petersen hit a three-run home run in a four-run seventh for Iowa. A passed ball and Cade Moss RBI single in the eighth ended the game.

The Big Ten announced its all-conference teams Tuesday, with outfielder Petersen, utility player Keaton Anthony and pitcher Brody Brecht earning first-team honors. Morgan and first baseman Brennen Dorighi second-team honors and catcher Moss third team.

Sophomore Ben Wilmen was Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship recipient.

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