Iowa Hawkeyes Fall to Florida Atlantic in Close Game

Hawkeyes take series despite 3-2 loss in series finale

Feb. 22, 2026 at 7:05pm

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The Iowa Baseball team finished up their series in Boca Raton on Sunday with a 3-2 loss to Florida Atlantic. With the loss, the Hawkeyes fall to 5-2 on the season, but still take the series. They'll be back in action on Tuesday for a home midweek against Wartburg College.

Why it matters

This was a close, hard-fought game between two strong baseball programs. While the Hawkeyes came up short, taking the series against a quality opponent like Florida Atlantic is an impressive accomplishment early in the season and bodes well for Iowa's chances of making a postseason run.

The details

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Florida Atlantic jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st. Iowa responded with 2 runs in the 3rd to take a 2-1 advantage, but the Owls tied it in the 4th and then scored the go-ahead run in the 5th to secure the 3-2 victory. Both teams had strong pitching performances, with Iowa's Nick Terhaar, Maddux Frese, and Joe Husak combining for 9 strikeouts, while Florida Atlantic used 6 different pitchers to limit the Hawkeyes' offense.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 22, 2026 in Boca Raton, Florida.
  • Iowa will next be in action on Tuesday, February 25, 2026 for a home midweek game against Wartburg College.

The players

Nick Terhaar

The starting pitcher for Iowa, who went 3.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Maddux Frese

The relief pitcher for Iowa, who went 4.2 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Joe Husak

The relief pitcher for Iowa, who went 0.1 innings, recording 1 strikeout.

Garrett Grant

The starting pitcher for Florida Atlantic, who went 3.2 innings, allowing 2 runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Kyle Boylston

The Iowa outfielder who hit a solo home run in the 4th inning to tie the game at 2-2.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough series against a very good Florida Atlantic team. While it's disappointing to lose the final game, I'm proud of the way our guys battled and took the series. We'll learn from this experience and get ready for our next challenge.”

— Rick Heller, Iowa Head Baseball Coach (Iowa Athletics)

What’s next

The Hawkeyes will look to bounce back on Tuesday when they host Wartburg College for a midweek game.

The takeaway

Despite the tough loss, Iowa's ability to take the series against a quality opponent like Florida Atlantic demonstrates the team's resilience and potential for a successful season. The Hawkeyes will look to build on this experience as they continue their non-conference schedule and prepare for Big Ten play.