The Iowa baseball team will open up the 2014 season this weekend when it travels to Clarksville, Tenn., to take on Austin Peay in a three-game series.

The games will take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Feb. 16 in Raymond C. Hand Park.

The weekend’s contests will be a milestone for Iowa baseball —they the first series of new head coach Rick Heller’s tenure.  Heller, as well as his entire staff, are in their first season with the Black and Gold.

Depending on the outcome, this weekend could also pull Heller to within view of another milestone: 700 career wins.  In his 26-year coaching career, Heller has amassed 690 wins, 39th all-time among coaches in the NCAA.

Sophomore pitcher Calvin Matthews is the expected starter for Friday night, with transfer student Tyler Peyton scheduled to make his first appearance on the mound for the Hawks.

Junior Eric Toole will look to pick up where he left off last season, in which he led the Hawks in batting average (.337), runs (32), hits (59), total bases (67), and steals (22).  He was preseason first-team All-Big Ten team selection this year.

The Hawks have a 4-6 record against Austin Peay, 1-3 against it last season.

— by Ryan Rodriguez