Iowa baseball coach Rick Heller feels the pitching is lined up for Friday’s start of a three-game Big Ten series against Ohio State. Sunday starter Ty Langenberg tossed one inning in Tuesday night’s win over Illinois State and Saturday starter Brody Brecht threw one inning as well. He lasted only 35 pitches in last weekend’s 9-6 win at Penn State.

Saturday starter Marcus Morgan also had a rough start. He only logged an inning and a third in an 8-3 loss in the second game of a doubleheader at Penn State.

Heller says short outings from the starters put too much pressure on the bullpen and are tough to overcome.

Iowa is 8-6 in the Big Ten. Ohio State took two of three last weekend from Illinois. The Buckeyes are 5-13 in the conference.

Heller says it is not about the standing but how well the Hawkeyes perform.

Heller says a key down the stretch will be getting quality starts on the mound and maintaining balance up and down the lineup.

The Hawkeyes are 32-11 overall.