Iowa junior pitcher Brody Brecht has been showing why he was a considered a pre-season All-American the past few weeks. The native of Ankeny has won his last three starts and in 22 and two-thirds innings of work has allowed five hits and struck out 36 batters. He yielded two hits and one run in eight innings of work in Saturday’s 9-2 win over Northwestern.

That’s Iowa coach Rick Heller who says Brecht spent part of the season with an oblique strain.

The Hawkeyes are 13-8 in the Big Ten and open a three-game series at conference leader Illinois on Friday.