IOWA CITY, Iowa – Nick Gallagher didn’t start or finish Sunday’s game against Michigan, but he did a lot of good stuff in between.

And that was because he had his good stuff on the mound.

Gallagher allowed just one run in seven innings of relief to help the Iowa baseball team avoid a three-game sweep against Michigan with an 8-3 victory at Banks Field.

The former Iowa City West standout had seven strikeouts and walked just one batter after replacing starter Calvin Mathews with two outs in the second inning.

“He was tremendous,” Iowa coach Rick Heller said of Gallagher, who improved his record to 5-2 on the season. “He had command of all of his pitches and I just love the intent, he was a real aggressive and went after their hitters. And obviously, a good hitting team and on a day when the wind was blowing out like that, he wasn’t intimidated. He just attacked and forced contact.

“I was really proud of Nick. I thought he did a great job.”

Sunday’s relief gem was the latest milestone in Gallagher’s unlikely rise as a pitcher.

As a life-long Hawkeye fan who grew up near the UI campus, Gallagher knew long before his rise as a pitcher that he wanted to attend the University of Iowa.

In fact, Gallagher was all set to be a student-manager for the Iowa men’s basketball team until his success in baseball presented another opportunity.

Gallagher performed well enough as a senior pitcher at West that Heller offered him a chance to join the baseball program as a walk-on.

Gallagher now cherishes every moment he spends on the mound. He appreciates being close to home and pitching in front of family and friends.

“I like it a lot,” Gallagher said. “Growing up, I was always a Hawkeye. I go to every football game and most of the basketball games. I never wanted to be anywhere else besides here. So it’s perfect.”

Gallagher’s rise as a pitcher has been helped by a number of things, including the fact he grew three inches between his junior and senior year of high school. He also played basketball for West and trained hard in that sport.

“I worked hard in the offseason to try and play on the basketball team,” said Gallagher, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. “They’re really good over there. And I think a lot of that lifting and conditioning and stuff like that helped with baseball.”

Gallagher barely could break 80 miles per hour on the radar gun as a junior in high school. On Sunday, he threw sliders that were clocked at 86.

“Some kids are just late bloomers,” Heller said. “He filled out and he got stronger. And I watched him. We’re in town and being able to see him pitch at the high school level, it was pretty evident by mid-season of his senior year that he was making a real nice jump. And I still think he has another jump in there. He’s still kind of getting his feet wet. But he’s done a great job for us.”

Gallagher was about two weeks from starting his freshman year at Iowa when Heller offered him a chance to walk-on.

“I had always planned on going to Iowa and then coach called and said we want you to try out and have a spot,” said Gallagher. “So I did that. I figured I might regret it if I don’t try it.”

Heller also believes that Gallagher’s work ethic for basketball is now paying benefits on the mound.

“He really developed as an athlete,” Heller said. “I’m just glad he’s here. I’m really happy that he chose to come to Iowa.”

As for the game, Michigan struck first by scoring two runs off Mathews in the top of the second.

Iowa answered by scoring at least one run in five consecutive innings during a stretch that lasted from the third inning to the seventh.

Senior center fielder Joel Booker had four of Iowa’s 16 hits while batting third in the order instead of his usual lead-off spot.

Tyler Peyton replaced Booker as the lead-off hitter and had two hits, while also driving in one run and scoring another run.

Peyton also was set to pitch in relief as the closer until he got spiked on his right throwing arm.

Gallagher almost closed the game by himself, but was replaced by Zach Daniels with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth.

“He got spiked pretty good there,” Heller said of Peyton. “I was a little nervous because the plan was to go Mathews, Gallagher and then to Peyton. And he got spiked on his right arm. He’s probably going to have to get over ten stitches after the game. And that took him out of the mix for the bullpen.”

It didn’t matter, though, as Gallagher plowed through Michigan’s talented lineup.

“My goal is not to give up the ball,” Gallagher said. “I got to the last out. But when I get the ball, my goal is to close out the game basically.”

Gallagher is now pitching in long relief after also being a starter this season.

“I don’t really focus on my role that much,” Gallagher said. “I just come in and pound the zone and try to execute my pitches. I don’t really focus on what role I’m in at the time.

“Whatever the coach tells me to do, that’s what I try to do.”

Heller was pleased that his team played what he described as "Hawkeye baseball" on Sunday after struggling in the first two games against Michigan. Neither team committed an error on Sunday.

"We didn’t give anything away today, which is real nice to see," Heller said. "

The pressure was on Gallagher to help Iowa avoid a sweep. The Hawkeyes improved to 7-8 in the Big Ten and 18-19 overall, while Michigan fell to 8-3 and 28-10 overall.

“It was big,” Gallagher said of Sunday’s victory. “All the games are huge, but especially these conference games.
“We’re trying to go to Omaha and get in the Big Ten Tournament.”

The top eight teams will advance to the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha after the regular season. Iowa finished second in the Big Ten last season, but entered Sunday’s game in eighth place.

Michigan 020 000 001 3 11 0
Iowa 001 132 10x – 8 16 0

DP – Michigan 4, Iowa 2. LOB – Michigan 8, Iowa 8. 2B – Harrison Wenson (M), Drew Lugbauer (M), Joel Booker, (I), John Barrett (I). HR – Dominic Jamett (M). SB – Booker (13).