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.

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Athletics Department will be hosting a FREE women’s basketball watch party Sunday afternoon at Carver-Hawkeye Arena for the second-ranked Hawkeyes’ NCAA Championship game against top-ranked South Carolina.

Doors at the North, South and West entrances to Carver-Hawkeye Arena will open at 1 p.m. (CT) — 60 minutes prior to the 2 p.m. scheduled tipoff from Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland.

Fans attending the watch party will be asked to view the game on the jumbotron from the east side of the arena in Sections NN, N, M, L, MM, LL, KK.

Parking will be free in all Carver-Hawkeye Arena surrounding lots.  There will not be reserved parking.

During the watch party, there will be in-game entertainment and the Hawkeye Fan Shop and concessions (including beer and wine) will be available.

The Hawkeyes, who have won a school record 34 games this season, are playing in their second straight NCAA Championship Game.

Iowa junior guard Sydney Affolter finished with eight points and seven rebounds and says the team knew they had to clamp down on defense throughout the game to pull off the win.

Affolter says she was proud of the way the team stayed together despite being behind in the first half.

Affolter says the team realizes every player contributes in a different way every game.

Gabbie Marshall had five points and five rebounds and the senior from Cincinnati hopes her career ends with a national title in her home state.

Marshall was impressed with Clark’s composure throughout the game.

Kate Martin had 11 points and eight rebounds and says the team’s defense has been showing up well in the tournament.

Martin says she’s proud of Stuelke’s play.

Martin says the team stayed composed in the locker room at halftime despite being down by double digits in the first half.

Treynor 159 Shenandoah 187

Medalist: Brock Poland, Treynor (37)

Clarinda 168 Glenwood 169 

Medalist: Brody Sneed, Glenwood (36)

Lewis Central 166 Denison-Schleswig 173 Heartland Christian 243

Medalist: Easton Emery, Denison-Schleswig (37)

Sidney 181 Hamburg 205 Griswold 220

Medalist: Keith Thompson, Hamburg (37)

Fremont-Mills 188 Underwood 190 Logan-Magnolia 195

Medalist: Danny Stein, Underwood (41)

Riverside 170 Tri-Center 211

Medalist: Taven Moore, Riverside (41) 

Missouri Valley 160 IKM-Manning 207

Medalist: Jackson Tennis, Missouri Valley (36)

Clarke 157 Interstate 35 192 Southwest Valley NTS

Medalist: Shay Matthews, Clarke (36)

Boy’s Results:

1. IKM-Manning (129 points) — Winners: Isaac Blankman, 800 meter run (2:13.12)|4×800 meter relay (8:57.55)

2. Harlan (127 points) — Winners: Matthew Sorfonden, 100 meter dash (11.02), 200 meter dash (22.89)|Brehden Eggerss, long jump (21-03.50)|4×100 meter relay (45.03)|4×200 meter relay (1:35.47)

3. Woodbine (122 points) — Winners: Gunner Wagner, 1600 meter run (4:51.69), 3200 meter run (10:23.93)|4×400 meter relay (3:41.10)|Distance medley relay (3:49.72)

4. Denison-Schleswig (81 points) — Winners: Jake Fink, high jump (5-10.00)|Sprint medley relay (1:40.25)

5. Underwood (58 points) — Winners: Mason Boothby, 110 meter hurdles (15.07), 400 meter hurdles (58.86)|Max Tiarks, shot put (55-05.50), discus (167-08.00)|Shuttle hurdle relay (1:01.59)

6. Tri-Center (43 points) — Winners: Carter Kunze, 400 meter dash (54.51)

7. Boyer Valley (17 points)

Girl’s Results: 

1. Tri-Center (99 points) — Tess Casey, 400 meters (1:03.76)|Isah VanArsdol, 800 meters (2:30.75)|Quincey Schneckloth, 100 hurdles (17.27) & 400 hurdles (1:11.33)|4×400 meter relay (4:23.96)|1600 medley relay (4:35.02)

2. Denison-Schleswig (94 points) — Avery Bock, long jump (15-10.50)|Mayah Slater, discus (98-08)

3. Woodbine (90.5 points) — Adyson Lapel, 3000 meters (11:47.87)|Amanda Newton, shot put (36-09.25)|800 medley relay (1:57.98)

4. Harlan (90 points) — Lindsey Sonderman, 1500 meters (5:01.19)|Shuttle hurdle relay (1:14.68)

5. Boyer Valley (80 points) — Morgan Hast, 100 meters (13.08), 200 meters (27.77), high jump (5-00.00)|4×800 meter relay (10:51.38)

6. IKM-Manning (76 points)

7. Underwood (50.5 points) — 4×100 meter relay (52.97)|4×200 meter relay (1:51.98)

Treynor 221 Shenandoah 227 

Medalist: Sophi Pedersen, Treynor (48)

Glenwood 222 Clarinda 223 

Medalist: Taylor Rasmussen, Clarinda (47)

Denison-Schleswig 217 Lewis Central 224 

Medalist: Emily Bahnsen, Denison-Schleswig (48)

Logan-Magnolia 231 Underwood 241 Fremont-Mills 284 

Medalist: Kailynn Brecher, Underwood (45)

Sidney 225 Griswold NTS Hamburg NTS 

Medalist: Joey Reynolds, Griswold (48)

IKM-Manning 218 Missouri Valley 248

Medalist: Henley Arbaugh, Missouri Valley (47)