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Nittany Lions Return Home for Big Ten Opener (Series Preview)

Iowa (11-5, 0-0 Big Ten) at Penn State (4-11, 0-0 Big Ten)

Dates: March 13–15

Game Times (EST): 3:30 PM (Fri), 2:00 PM (Sat), 1:00 PM (Sun)

Location: Medlar Field at Lubrano Park (Lubbock, TX)

  • Average Home Attendance (2026): 409

  • Highest Home Attendance (2026): 409 (March 4, vs. Saint John’s)

  • Capacity: 5,570

Coverage

  • TV: B1G+

    • All days – Luke Stefanisko (PxP)

    • Fri – Isaac Hallock (color)

    • Sat – Chase Fisher (color)

    • Sun – Bryan Portney (color)

  • Radio

    • Iowa: Hawkeye Radio Network (John Leo)

    • Student: CommRadio – check gameday links on X

      • Fri – Bryan Portney & Chase Fisher

      • Sat – Bryan Portney & Isaac Hallock

      • Sun – TBD

  • Live Stats/Pregame Lineups


Storylines

Quick Preview: Plenty of History

These two teams have had some electric moments in the head-to-head, namely the Nittany Lions in 2016 when they walked off the Hawkeyes in 12 innings to close out the season.


The two sides went back and forth in the 2022 Big Ten Tournament when Penn State notched its first tournament win since 2008 before Iowa got the last laugh to end the Nittany Lions’ postseason run.


Hawkeyes Surge in Several National Categories

Iowa finds itself in the top 20 for nine state categories, eight of which being related to hitting.


The Hawkeyes include batting average (.344) to that list in Division I, which leads the Big Ten by 32-thousandths heading into conference play.



Long Ball Keys Success Despite Recent Woes

Penn State is riding a five-game losing streak and a 4-11 record heading into Big Ten play, its worst start since 2015, having gone 2-13 in its first 15.


Though there have been troubles as of late, the Nittany Lions managed to hit eight home runs in this five-game stretch, including Cohl Mercado’s first long ball since 2023.



Head-to-Head History

Penn State is 42-37 against Iowa all-time. Penn State last played Iowa on April 29, 2023, splitting a doubleheader at home. Penn State is 22-17 against Iowa at home all-time.


Penn State last won a series over Iowa on the weekend of April 20–21, 2013, taking two-of-three at home. Iowa most recently won a series over Penn State on the weekend of May 7–8, 2021, taking two-of-three at home.



Iowa at Penn State: By The Numbers

Iowa

Offense

Penn State

.344

Batting Average

.259

.444

On-Base Pct

.368

10 (0.63)

Home Runs (per game)

21 (1.40)

26-19-36

Total Runs (Fri-Sat-Sun)

20-19-18


Iowa

Defense

Penn State

5.18

Earned Run Avg

8.30

.254

Opponent Batting Avg

.322

145 (9.06)

Strikeouts (per game)

102 (6.80)

66 (4.13)

Walks (per game)

82 (5.47)


Probable Starting Pitchers

Iowa

  1. RHP Jaron Bleeker, So. (3-0, 2.04 ERA)

  2. RHP Logan Runde, Gr. (0-0, 3.29 ERA)

  3. TBD.

Penn State

  1. RHP Colin Fitzgerald, R-Sr. (1-3, 6.75 ERA)

  2. RHP Benjamin Hudson, So. (1-3, 7.36 ERA)

  3. RHP Isaiah Shayter, Fr. (0-2, 14.34 ERA)


Top Bullpen Pitchers

Iowa

  • RHP Joe Husak, Gr. (6 app, 9.2 IP, 2.79 ERA, 0.87 WHIP)

  • RHP Tate Slagle, Fr. (6 app, 5.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP)

  • RHP Kyle Alivo, R-Fr. (4 app, 9.1 IP, 2.89 ERA, 1.43 WHIP)

Penn State

  • RHP Kyle Emmons, Jr. (7 app, 9.2 IP, 2.79 ERA, 1.09 WHIP)

  • RHP Dimond Loosli, Sr. (5 app, 6.2 IP, 6.75 ERA, 2.90 WHIP)

  • RHP Ben DeMell, R-Sr. (7 app, 10 IP, 6.30 ERA, 1.80 WHIP)


Top Hitters/Runners

Iowa (6.50|4.75|9.00 Runs per Game)

  1. 2B Gable Mitchell, Sr. (.484|.575|.656, 1 hr, 17 rbi, 4 sb)

  2. 1B Çaleb Wulf, Sr. (.422|.479|.484, 0 hr, 14 rbi)

  3. DH Mitch Wood, Sr. (.414|.537|.793, 3 hr, 15 rbi)

Penn State (5.00|3.80|6.00 Runs per Game)

  1. 2B Jayden Davis, Sr. (.328|.365|.500, 2 hr, 7 rbi)

  2. DH Michael Anderson, Sr. (.313|.476|.750, 7 hr, 18 rbi)

  3. 3B/1B Spencer Barnett, Jr. (.381|.480|1.048, 4 hr, 6 rbi, 3 sb)


Quick Picks & Analysis

Bryan: The rough start for the blue and white cannot be understated, however it is due for a surge. Despite this, the Hawkeyes will still look like the better team and reflect that this weekend. Iowa 2, Penn State 1.

 
 
 
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