Hawkeyes Drop Season Opener

GOODYEAR, Arizona – The University of Iowa baseball team fell to Kansas State in its season opener, 15-6, at Goodyear Ballpark on Friday evening.

“It was a challenging day, and we had some sloppy moments on the mound and in the field,” said head coach Rick Heller. “On offense, Kellen Strohmeyer, Caleb Wulf, Kooper Schulte, and Gable Mitchell had some really strong at-bats, and Jaron Bleeker and Tate Slagle showed a lot of promise on the mound. We had the table set several times, but we didn’t get the big hit. We’ll wipe it away and play better tomorrow.”

Sophomore Tyler Guerin made his first Friday night start on the mound for Iowa and was tagged with the loss, pitching three innings and striking out two. The Wildcats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the second.

Iowa responded with its first run of the 2026 season as redshirt junior Kellen Stromeyer doubled to right-center, driving in senior Gable Mitchell. Stromeyer led the Hawkeyes offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Iowa scored in four consecutive innings, including the fourth when senior Miles Risley doubled to center to bring home graduate transfer Matthew Delgado, cutting the Wildcat lead to 5-2. Kansas State then erupted for six runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Iowa answered immediately in the top of the fifth with a two-run homer off the bat of junior Kooper Shulte. The Hawkeyes added one run in both the sixth — when Mitchell scored on a wild pitch — and the eighth — when senior Caleb Wulf singled to bring home senior Joey Nerat.

Freshman Tate Slagle made his first collegiate appearance in the bottom of the seventh, striking out two in an inning of work. Despite Iowa’s efforts, Kansas State pulled away for the 15-6 win.

OF NOTE
-     Stromeyer recorded his fourth career multi-hit game, tying his career high with three hits (last vs. Milwaukee, 4/8/25).
-     Stromeyer, Mitchell, Wulf, and Schulte each scored two runs.
-     Iowa is 6–7 in season openers under head coach Rick Heller.
-     Iowa now holds a 10–18 all-time record against Kansas State.
-     Transfers Bryce Phelps, Jayden Ziegler and Delgado made their first starts in an Iowa uniform. John Henry Kohorst, Slagle, Brett White, Kyle Alivo, and Ty Mikkelsen also made their first career appearances.

NEXT UP
The Hawkeyes (0-1) return to action Saturday, facing Air Force at 7 p.m. (CT).