Hawkeyes to Host UW–Platteville in Home Opener

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa baseball team welcomes UW–Platteville to Duane Banks Field on Tuesday for a midweek matchup and the Hawkeyes’ home opener. First pitch is scheduled for 3:02 p.m. (CDT), and admission is free.

It is believed to be the earliest home opener in program history, surpassing a Feb. 15 game against Loras in 2024.

The Hawkeyes enter the contest with a 2-1 record after opening the season last weekend, while the Pioneers have yet to play a game. Iowa leads the all‑time series 7-0. The teams first met in 1981 and last squared off in 1984, when the Hawkeyes won 17-1 and 22-0.

Last season, UW–Platteville finished 20-21 while hitting .280 as a team, and its pitching staff posted a 6.13 ERA. Caleb Parker returns after leading the offense with a .423 average and 39 runs. Anthony Massa also returns after driving in 32 runs, second most on the team.

Isaac Bixby returns after leading the Pioneer pitching staff with a 4.98 ERA over 59 2/3 innings. He recorded 43 strikeouts against just 11 walks.

Iowa is hitting .352 overall with 31 runs scored. Joey Nerat leads the Hawkeyes with a .545 average and two stolen bases. Gable Mitchell has scored six runs, and both he and Miles Risley are hitting .455 on the young season. Caleb Wulf is hitting .417 with five RBIs, and Kooper Schulte has Iowa’s lone home run.

The Hawkeye pitching staff has a 10.73 ERA after the opening weekend. RHP Logan Runde leads the group with a 3.38 ERA over 5 1/3 innings and has a team‑high six strikeouts. RHP Kyle Alivo follows with a 3.00 ERA and four strikeouts in three innings after closing out Iowa’s win over Air Force to earn his first career save.

Tuesday’s game will be streamed on B1G+ and can be heard on the Hawkeye Radio Network.