Iowa Baseball Propelled By Obermueller's Complete Game In Run-Rule Win vs. Northwestern

Iowa baseball (19-9, 11-2 Big Ten) cruised to another series-opening win on Friday as the Hawkeyes dominated Game 1 behind a complete game performance from Cade Obermueller en route to a 12-1 seven-inning run-rule decision vs. Northwestern (13-14, 5-5) from Rocky and Berenice Miller Park in Evanston, Ill.

Well that was fun!#Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/ApV5MapHrZ

— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 4, 2025

Obermueller (2-2, 2.95 ERA) pitched a complete game and struck out a career-high 12 batters for his third straight win on the mound. He is the first Hawkeye to throw a complete game (7 innings) since Drew Irvine versus Rutgers on April 17, 2021.

The junior lefty didn't give up a hit until the sixth inning, and the Wildcats' lone run was unearned. Obermueller has struck out 32 batters in his last three starts.

Complete game 💎 and career-high 12 strikeouts for Cade Obermueller 🔥#Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/yNRzXyGrMI

— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 4, 2025

Regarding the offense, Iowa plated five runs off of four hits to open the scoring in the second inning. They scored two more in the sixth when fifth-year Andy Nelson hit an RBI double down the left-field line, and junior Gable Mitchell poked an RBI single.

The final five runs came in the seventh frame from two RBI walks, an RBI SAC fly from senior Ben Wilmes, an RBI single from junior Miles Risley, and a Northwestern error.

Got a few more 😁

M7 | Iowa 12, Northwestern 1#Hawkeyespic.twitter.com/9n7dXQcBZ1

— Iowa Baseball (@UIBaseball) April 4, 2025

Nelson, Wilmes, Risley, Reese Moore, and Kooper Schulte all recorded multi-RBI games with two each. Mitchell and Risley were the lone Hawkeyes to collect multiple hits in the game, with two each. 

The Hawkeyes recorded 10 hits and batted .500 with runners in scoring position in the win. Iowa also has scored 10-plus runs in eight of its 13 conference games this season.

With UCLA playing a non-conference series this weekend, the win temporarily gives Iowa sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

The Hawkeyes and Wildcats will continue their three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. CT, with Aaron Savary (4-0, 3.75 ERA) expected to start on the mound for Iowa.

Saturday's Game 2 will be televised on the Big Ten Network (BTN) with play-by-play announcer Chris Vosters and color analyst Scott Pose on the call from the booth in Evanston, Ill.

Watch Iowa vs. Northwestern (Game 2)

As always, the entire series can be heard on the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside ...