IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior in red jersey Trenton Wallace has been named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, it was announced Sunday on the Big Ten Network. Wallace is one of three Hawkeyes to win All-Big Ten honors.
Wallace and senior outfielder Ben Norman were named honorees in the All-Big Ten first team, while red jersey junior Izaya Fullard was selected to the third team as second baseman. Senior Grant Leonard was also recognized as the winner of the Iowa Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Wallace is the first player in the school's history to earn the honors of the Top Ten Pitchers of the Year. Starting pitcher Brett Backlund was 1992 Big Ten Co-Player of the Year; the league began recognizing Pitcher of the Year in 1994.
Wallace is the second Hawkeye to win one of the league's top honors with head coach Rick Heller, joining Jake Adams, who was unanimous Big Ten Player of the Year in 2017. Wallace is the third starting pitcher and Norman is the Heller's third outfielder to win First-Team All-Big Ten honors.
Heller has coached 10 All-Big Ten first-team players in his tenure at Iowa and 26 All-Big Ten teams.
Wallace, a southpaw from Rock Island, Illinois, was excellent in his first season in Iowa's weekend rotation. As Friday night's ace, Wallace finished the regular season with a 7-1 record and an ERA. of 2.34 in 13 starts with 106 strikeouts, the league leading.
Fourth-year Hawkeye has allowed 20 runs (19 earned) on 54 hits in 73 innings this season. He allowed two or fewer runs in 10 starts, had eight or more strikeouts in 10 starts, and posted eight quality starts.
Iowa won eight straight series starts dating back to April 2 with Wallace on the mound and the Hawkeyes won all but two series starts this season. His 106 strikeouts are the second-most in a single season in school history, behind only Jim Magrane's 110 strikeouts in 1999.
Norman has been one of the best offensive players in Iowa all season. He leads the team in batting average (.311), runs (35), home runs (10), RBIs (51), hits (51) and steals (12), while ranking second in doubles (14) and triples. ( 3). His 51 RBIs lead the Big Ten and his three triples are tied for second.
The Des Moines, Iowa native has hit safely in 33 games and reached safely in 37 contests this season with 15 multi-hitters and 15 multi-RBIs. Norman will tie the record for school games played today against Michigan State, as it will be the 220th game of his career (his 119th consecutive start). Norman is also seventh all-time in career doubles (46), 11th in career steals (46), and 14th in career singles (131).
After a slow start, Fullard rallied to win third-team All-Big Ten honors. He is second on the team with a .296 average, while ranking second in hits (47) and fourth in doubles (8). The North Liberty, Iowa native has eight doubles, five home runs, 20 RBIs and 22 runs scored. In his last 23 games, Fullard has hit .323 (32 of 99) with 12 multi-hit games, 19 RBIs and 15 runs scored.
Leonard, a relief pitcher from Mokenna, Illinois, received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in Iowa. The distinction is presented to student-athletes who display sportsmanship and ethical behavior, have good academic standing, and demonstrate good citizenship outside of athletics.
The Hawkeyes close out the regular season on Sunday, facing Michigan State at 12:05 p.m. (CT) at McClane Ballpark at Kobs Field.
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