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The Daily Iowan
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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan
The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Iowa baseball loses first midweek game of the season, falling to Illinois State, 13-6

The Hawkeyes used 14 pitchers and allowed 14 hits and nine free bases.
Jackson Miller, Assistant Sports Editor
April 28, 2026
Travis Crabb
Iowa right-hand pitcher Cole Moore winds up a pitch in the baseball game between Iowa and Western Illinois at Duane Banks Field on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The Hawkeyes won in the seventh-inning with a score of 22-3 over the Leathernecks. (Travis Crabb / The Daily Iowan)

The Iowa baseball team took on Illinois State in a midweek contest on Tuesday. The Hawkeyes fell to the Redbirds 13-6, marking the first midweek loss of the season for Iowa. The Hawkeyes move to 26-17 on the season and 9-1 in midweek games.

“They just kicked the crap out of us,” head coach Rick Heller said. “The big inning they had was all hits. I don’t think we had a free base in that inning, just couldn’t get them out. The story for us was not taking it when they were trying to give it to us, and that’s what happens.”

Iowa used 14 pitchers throughout the contest, with two unable to record an out. The Hawkeye staff surrendered 14 hits and nine free bases.

Max Burt led the way offensively for Iowa, recording two hits and two RBIs. The Hawkeye designated hitter also walked twice.

Iowa got on the board first with an RBI groundout by Caleb Wulf in the first, before a wild pitch scored Ben Swails from third to extend the Hawkeye lead to two in the second. The Redbirds then stormed back with a bases-loaded walk in the third and two runs in the fourth to take the lead.

Iowa then loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth, where Kooper Schulte was hit by a pitch to tie the game at three. The Hawkeyes then went down in order after the run.

In the bottom of the fifth, Iowa took the lead again with a bases-loaded walk. Illinois State, however, responded in the sixth with an RBI single to left field by third baseman Payton McHarg.

The Redbirds added on in the seventh with a six-run inning. Camden Karczewski started things off with an RBI single through the right side. Louis Bussard and McHarg each delivered two-run doubles to take a 9-4 lead. Brayden Bakes then roped a double to right field for the 10th Redbird run. The Hawkeyes used three pitchers in the inning, with each allowing at least one hit.

Illinois State wasn’t done there, as the Redbirds added two more in the eighth with an RBI groundout and an RBI double.

The Hawkeyes then cut into the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run single up the middle by Burt to bring home Schulte and Miles Risley. Illinois State then got one run back in the top of the ninth with an RBI single by Luke Stulga, who was thrown out trying to advance to second on a bobble in right field.

Up Next

Iowa will return to Duane Banks Field for its final home series against Illinois on Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 3. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:02 p.m. on Big Ten Plus and the Hawkeye Radio Network.