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Goodyear Today
By the People, for the People
Iowa baseball falls to KSU in season opener 15-6
Hawkeyes lose first game of 2026 season despite offensive efforts
Published on Feb. 14, 2026
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The University of Iowa baseball team fell to Kansas State 15-6 in its season opener at Goodyear Ballpark on Friday evening. Sophomore Tyler Guerin took the loss on the mound for Iowa, while redshirt junior Kellen Stromeyer led the Hawkeyes offensively with three hits and an RBI. Iowa scored in four consecutive innings, including a two-run homer by junior Kooper Shulte, but Kansas State pulled away late in the game.
Why it matters
This loss marks a disappointing start to the season for Iowa, which is looking to build on its success from last year. The Hawkeyes will need to regroup quickly as they face Air Force on Saturday in their second game of the season.
The details
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.
- The game took place on Friday, February 14, 2026.
- Iowa scored its first run of the 2026 season in the second inning.
The players
Tyler Guerin
A sophomore pitcher who made the first Friday night start of his career for Iowa.
Kellen Stromeyer
A redshirt junior who led the Hawkeyes offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Kooper Shulte
A junior who hit a two-run homer for Iowa in the fifth inning.
Rick Heller
The head coach of the Iowa baseball team.
Kansas State
The opposing team that defeated Iowa 15-6 in the season opener.
What’s next
The Hawkeyes (0-1) return to action Saturday, facing Air Force at 7 p.m. (CT). That game can be seen on the MLB Network.
The takeaway
Despite the loss, Iowa showed signs of offensive life, with Stromeyer, Shulte, and others contributing at the plate. The Hawkeyes will need to build on those positives as they look to bounce back in their next game against Air Force.
