IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa baseball team dropped both halves of a doubleheader with Michigan on Saturday at Duane Banks Field. The Hawkeyes lost game one, 4-3, and game two, 10-6.

“It was a tough day for us,” said Rick Heller. “Game one was a tight one run loss. After we went to the bullpen, the guys did a good job. Jack Young and Anthony Watts and Ganon Archer pitched really well. They gave us a chance to win, and we had so many opportunities to score and just didn’t execute at all offensively. That was something that we hadn’t seen from our ball club all season long, and unfortunately, it bit us in that one. There were just tons of things that we didn’t do well. We didn’t execute to be able to get the runs in, and then we had some bad luck as well.”

Marcus Morgan started the first game for Iowa. He threw 2 2/3 innings allowing three runs on three hits and six walks while striking out five. Ganon Archer allowed one run in two innings of work and struck out five and Anthony Watts struck out six in three innings of work. Jack Young threw the final 1 1/3 innings of the game.

The Hawkeye pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts and 10 walks in game one.

Gable Mitchell was 3-for-3 with three extra base hits (two doubles and a triple) and Raider 2-for-3.

“Then in game two, we got a good start out of Brody Brecht,” said Heller. “But we couldn’t get off the field in the sixth. The guys fought back, and we take a one-run lead in the seventh. They take a one run lead and we’re going to get out of the inning in a one-run game when we lose a ball in the sky. After that we couldn’t stop it. They end up putting five up and go up four runs in the seventh or in the eighth. And we didn’t rally, Denner settled in, and did a good job to finish us off.”

Brody Brecht started game two and went 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on six hits. He struck out 11 and walked one. Six other pitchers combined to close out the game in relief allowing five runs on seven hits.

Kyle Huckstorf was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI and Blake Guerin had two RBIs.

“It was a disappointing day,” said Heller. “One of those days that you felt like if you’d have played better, you could have won a couple today, but we certainly didn’t.”

Michigan stranded 25 runners on the day to Iowa’s 15, and 11 of Michigan’s 12 RBIs on the day came with two outs.

Iowa returns to action on Wednesday hosting St. Thomas at 4:05 p.m. (CT).

Iowa Associate Head Coach Jan Jensen says the team knew it would be a tough task to beat a talented South Carolina team.

Jensen says she and Coach Bluder realize how much this team has meant to the state of Iowa over the past several months.

Jensen says Clark deserves to be recognized as the greatest of all time.

Senior Gabbie Marshall played almost all 40 minutes, scoring six points and had a team-high three steals. She says Iowa being out rebounded 51-29 and giving up 30 second-chance points hurt the Hawkeyes.

Marshall says South Carolina showed how strong they are as they outscored Iowa 37-0 in points off the bench.

Marshall credits Kate Martin’s leadership for helping the Hawkeyes reach the championship game for a second straight year.

Hannah Stuelke finished with 11 points and says it was tough to battle South Carolina’s talent.

Stuelke says there’s no doubt in her mind – Caitlin Clark is the greatest of all time.

Stuelke says losing the rebounding battle hurt the Hawkeyes.

Sydney Affolter had 12 points and says it was a tough way to end a two-year run that culminated in national runner-up finishes.

Affolter says this team believed they had a chance to make a successful run at the start of the season.

Affolter says South Carolina responded well after Iowa’s 20-9 start to the game.

South Carolina spoiled what the Iowa Hawkeye women were hoping would be a storybook ending. The Gamecocks took control with an 8-0 run late in the third quarter to beat the Hawkeyes 87-75 in the national championship game in Cleveland.

That’s Iowa coach Lisa Bluder. It was Iowa’s second straight trip to the Final Four and their second straight loss in the title game.

Bluder says South Carolina’s depth was a major factor. The Gamecocks got 37 points from the bench.

Bluder hopes they can maintain the momentum in the program going forward.

South Carolina dominated the glass by out rebounding the Hawkeyes 51-29 and also connected on nine-of-17 from three point range to finish a perfect 38-0.

That’s Iowa star Caitlin Clark who finished with 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists to close out her record breaking career.

Clark is expected to be the top pick in the WNBA Draft on April 15th.

The Hawkeyes finish the season with a record of 34-5.

It is the end of the road for a Hawkeye team that captivated the nation over the last two years with record television ratings and sold out crowds.

Iowa won 65 games during the past two seasons. Senior forward Kate Martin.

Martin says this Iowa team has been a big part in the growth of the women’s game over the past couple of years.