Iowa baseball took care of business in its return to the diamond, beating Southeastern Community College, 23-5, under the lights in its first fall exhibition game at Banks Field on Sept. 20.

It was a somewhat unusual game. First pitch for the fall contest came when the temperature was nearly 90 degrees as opposed to chilly autumn weather. Even more unusual, Cole McDonald, Iowa’s ace, got off to a rough start against a junior-college opponent.

Before it became a slaughterhouse, Southeastern found an offensive spark.

The Blackhawks got off to a fast start with a leadoff double, and the runner scored shortly after. Another double gave Southeastern the early lead, taking advantage of McDonald’s fall rust.

Grant Judkins entered the game in the third in relief of McDonald, who gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk, and struck out 4.

In the top of the third, left fielder Ben Norman dropped a fly ball, giving Southeastern another run and a 3-0 lead.

That didn’t last long; the Hawkeyes bounced back in the bottom of the inning.

Iowa capitalized on mistakes. The Blackhawks loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch, and a wild pitch brought in Iowa’s first run of the game. Then Norman redeemed himself by lacing a 2-RBI double to tie the game.

Shortstop Tanner Wetrich proceeded to give Iowa a lead in the fourth that it didn’t relinquish, smacking an RBI triple. Wetrich didn’t stop there, however; in the sixth, he laced a 2-run shot over the left-field fence.

While it was a good night for Wetrich, a returner, it was also a solid outing for some newcomers.

Redshirt freshman right fielder Connor McCaffery was a machine at getting on base, guiding the ball into green space seemingly every at-bat. He finished the 13-inning game 6-for-8 with 4 RBIs, a double, and 2 stolen bases.

“I’ve always been one that if I get going early, I feel real good at the plate, so that’s just kind of what happened,” McCaffery said. “My first couple at-bats went well, and then I just continued with that same approach.”

Catcher Austin Martin — a Southeastern transfer playing against his old team — lived on base in his first three plate appearances, with 2 singles and a walk. The junior from Altoona showed his ability in the field as well, throwing a runner out at second.

Iowa will continue its fall schedule against the Ontario Blue Jays at Banks Field at 5 p.m. Sept. 21.