IOWA CITY, Iowa – It was a walk off winner for the University of Iowa baseball team as Merrick Matthews propelled the Hawkeyes to a, 3-2, victory in the 10th inning over Michigan on Friday afternoon at Duane Banks Field.
The Hawkeyes and Wolverines saw the game go to extras in what was a low scoring pitchers’ duel. With the game tied, 2-2, Matthews delivered a bases loaded single to end the game. The Centerville, Iowa, native took just his seventh at bat as a Hawkeye and delivered the clutch base hit after falling behind 0-2 in the count.
“It was great to see,” said head coach Rick Heller. “Because when you have opportunities to win it like we did a couple of times and then didn’t come through, a lot of times you miss those chances and they don’t come back around. The guys just kept plugging away, they just kept fighting. Merrick Matthews comes through with the big clutch hit with two strikes and that was just awesome.”
Cade Obermueller made his first career Friday start for Iowa throwing 4 2/3 innings allowing two runs on two hits. The sophomore from Iowa City struck out six.
Jack Young entered and got the final out of the fifth. Aaron Savary threw 3 and 1/3 innings of relief striking out five Wolverines.
Ben DeTaeye entered in the ninth inning with a runner at third with one out and got a flyout and a groundout. The redshirt senior threw 1 2/3 innings to earn the win.
“Cade Obermueller pitched great for three innings,” said Heller. “As good as he’s pitched this year. And then he kind of lost it and gave him some free bases and we ended up giving them a couple runs. Then the bullpen came in and did an outstanding job today. Aaron Savary was tremendous, and then same with Ben DeTaeye. They were both outstanding today. We only had one free base once we went to the bullpen.”
Reese Moore and Will Mulflur each tallied two hits for the Hawkeyes. Mulflur had an RBI for the Hawkeyes with a single up the middle in the second inning and Kyle Huckstorf added an RBI on a groundout in the fifth.
“We just found a way to get it done,” said Heller. “Super happy with the effort.”
Iowa improved to 16-11 on the season and 5-2 in Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes and Wolverines will conclude the three-game series with a doubleheader beginning tomorrow at 1 p.m. (CT).
Notables
- The Hawkeyes have 18 walk off wins at Duane Banks Field since 2015.
- The last walk off win for the Hawkeyes was on February 17, 2023, against Indiana State when Kyle Huckstorf hit a grand slam in the 11th inning.
- The last walk off for the Hawkeyes at Duane Banks Field was April 21, 2021, when Brett McCleary hit a three-run home run against Northwestern.