Still alive! Social media reacts as Michael Seegers extends Iowa’s season with 13th-inning heroics
It wasn’t the preferred path after the Iowa Hawkeyes took a 5-2 lead over the North Carolina Tar Heels into the eighth inning, but it’ll work all the same.
The Hawkeyes survived a marathon, extra-innings affair with the Heels. They used an RBI triple by junior shortstop Michael Seegers to plate redshirt freshman Coy Sarsfield in the 13th inning en route to a 6-5 win.
Seegers’ heroics wouldn’t have been possible without a pinch-hit single from freshman Blake Guerin to set up Sarsfield on the base paths. Nor would it have happened without a Herculean effort from redshirt junior Will Christophersen in relief.
After the Hawkeyes coughed up that 5-2 lead with a game-tying solo blast from UNC’s Mac Horvath in the ninth, Christophersen entered and went the rest of the way for Iowa.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound reliever from Bettendorf, Iowa, pitched 4 2/3 no-hit, scoreless innings with four strikeouts to pave the way for Seegers’ RBI triple in the 13th.
Though junior Ty Langenberg didn’t wind up the winning pitcher, his seven-plus innings were pivotal in setting the stage for Iowa to wind up in the final. The Hawkeye starter allowed four earned runs after sophomore Jack Whitlock couldn’t quite wiggle out of the trouble in the eighth that Langenberg left him.
Still, it was the start the Hawkeyes needed and were looking for.
Early on, it looked like Wofford graduate transfer Brennen Dorighi’s three-run blast in the fifth would represent the winning touches for the Hawks. While it ultimately wasn’t, the fifth-year player’s homer erased an early 2-1 deficit and put Iowa in front 4-2.
After all of it though, the Hawkeyes managed to outlast North Carolina and win a dramatic extra-innings affair.
Now, Iowa needs to beat Indiana State twice to capture the Terre Haute Regional championship and advance into the super regionals. The Hawkeyes will play the Sycamores Sunday night at 5 p.m. CT. If they win, the two teams will meet again Monday in a winner-take-all contest.
Naturally, Hawkeye Twitter was feeling much better than last night after the wild win over UNC. Here’s the best reactions to the massive elimination game victory.
Don't say die yet
𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/drkiTlf9sy
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
Fan of the Sunday threads
These are two fine looking baseball uniforms. Go Hawks!
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 4, 2023
Casey Cook provides an early charge
Have a weekend, Casey Cook!
📺 https://t.co/TJVw4fleY1 pic.twitter.com/5xucvNwszw
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 4, 2023
Hello, Tello!
The #Hawkeyes get on the board as @mSeegs_is4real scores on a sac fly from Tello!
T3 | North Carolina 2, Iowa 1 pic.twitter.com/1IRfkWFSdh
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
Hang it, Bang it! Dorighi delivers!
𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭. 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭.
A @bdorigi bomb at The Bob!! #RoadToOmaha x 🎥: ACCN pic.twitter.com/DTlvk4PLWO
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
Big Rig.
BIIGGGG RIIGGGGG
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) June 4, 2023
KABOOM
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 4, 2023
hawk bomb
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) June 4, 2023
Not much better
There just aren't many things better than a Dorighi-Heller home run handshake pic.twitter.com/tjwrKWAUga
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) June 4, 2023
Huck adds to the advantage
Huck brings home Petey on a sac fly to extend the #Hawkeye lead!
T7 | Iowa 5, North Carolina 2 pic.twitter.com/4t98rDEDD7
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
UNC gets back within one
Back within one!
📺 https://t.co/TJVw4fkH8t pic.twitter.com/6vPqOy0f8B
— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) June 4, 2023
Final line from Ty
𝘎𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘛𝘺.#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/eD7AEpk9WD
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
Standing Twitter ovation
Standing Twitter ovation for Ty Langenberg. Pitched his guts off and did his part to keep the @UIBaseball season alive. #Hawkeyes
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) June 4, 2023
Just brutal
Unreal.
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 4, 2023
The bullpen strikes again, three days in a row. We'll see if it costs them a second game this weekend.
— Mark Woodley (@MarkWoodleyTV) June 4, 2023
Normally a great thing, just not in this instance
Free baseball. We head to the 10th.
E9 | Iowa 5, North Carolina 5#Hawkeyes
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
But, it takes what it takes!
It takes what it takes!
Gotta dig deep and win it in extras.
HUM’HAWKS! #Hawkeyes
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) June 4, 2023
How about 13?
Iowa-UNC to 13th inning.
— Mike Hlas (@Hlas) June 4, 2023
Seegers is the hero!
SEEGS!!!!!!
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
HAWKS BACK ON TOP!!!
RBI TRIPLE FOR @mSeegs_is4real! #RoadToOmaha x 🎥: ACCN pic.twitter.com/dJW4amN87h
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
Back where it belongs!
Hawks take the lead!
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) June 4, 2023
Let's. Go.
Let's goooo
— Felts (PAIN) (@Zhawk44) June 4, 2023
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
— Evan Baedke (@HawkatHeart) June 4, 2023
YES
WOOOOOOOOOO
— Irrational Hawkeye (@IrrationalHawk2) June 4, 2023
What a hit.
— Bennie Mac – What are we doing? (@BenMcC1908) June 4, 2023
Trademark it
#Hellerball, baby.
— On3 Hawkeye Images (@webcentrick) June 4, 2023
A little SportsCenter love!
IOWA WITH A GO-AHEAD TRIPLE IN THE 13TH‼️ pic.twitter.com/ssUYq858Um
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2023
Where there's a WILL...
Where there's a WILL, there's a WAY!!!!
— Evan Baedke (@HawkatHeart) June 4, 2023
Hawks win
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) June 4, 2023
All you can do!
Survive and advance!
— Felts (PAIN) (@Zhawk44) June 4, 2023
Don't let the Hawks get hot, baby!
THE HAWKS STAY ALIVE
BETTER BEAT US TONIGHT
DON’T LET US GET TO MONDAYONWARD#Hawkeyes #Hellerball pic.twitter.com/7wIje4Mb4L
— Cody Hills (@ByCodyHills) June 4, 2023
IN HEAVEN...
Iowa 6 UNC 5. Hawkeyes survive in extra innings and face Indiana State tonight. pic.twitter.com/nD0kzvcBBp
— hawks 101 (@iahawks101) June 4, 2023
All hands on deck
Hawks Win Baby #hellerball ⚾️🔥
Get some AC, some fluids, & let’s win the nightcap! #GoHawks
I can pitch if needed.
— Gary Koerner (@koerner_gary) June 4, 2023
Will was NAILS
Iowa relief pitcher Will Christopherson was NAILS in extra innings today.
4.2 innings pitched, zero hits and four strikeouts.
The bullpen has been struggling, but he just had the moment of his career.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) June 4, 2023
Record-tying W. See you tonight!
𝗦𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲 & 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
The #Hawkeyes tie the program win record as the pick up win No. 44! pic.twitter.com/a8YzrWLzzL
— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) June 4, 2023
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