For the sixth time in program history, the Iowa Hawkeyes are headed to the postseason and to an NCAA Baseball Tournament Regional. It’s the third NCAA Tournament trip under Iowa head baseball coach Rick Heller.
Iowa is off to the Terre Haute Regional with host and No. 14 overall seed Indiana State. The Hawkeyes earned the Regional’s No. 2 seed and open up play versus No. 3 seed North Carolina. Indiana State will play fourth-seeded Wright State.
Of course, Indiana State was Iowa head coach Rick Heller’s previous head coaching stop before joining the Hawkeyes in the 2014 season. The Hawkeyes opened this season with a walk-off, extra-innings grand slam from Kyle Huckstorf to down the Sycamores in the Snowbird NCAA Baseball Classic from Port Charlotte, Fla.
That tilted the all-time series record against Indiana State into the Hawkeyes’ favor, 2-1. Iowa previously topped Indiana State, 6-3, in 1981 before losing to the Sycamores, 11-3, in 2016.
Meanwhile, Iowa is set to square off with North Carolina for just the third time in program history. The two teams have split the pair of games in their series history.
Iowa lost to the Tar Heels, 5-3, in their first-ever meeting as part of the Northeast Regional back in 1990. Then, in 2020, Iowa beat then-No. 20 North Carolina, 5-4. It was a dramatic, come-from-behind victory for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game and then walked off the Heels in extras with a solo shot from Austin Martin in the Cambria College Classic.
Lastly, Iowa is 1-0 all-time over Wright State with a 3-1 win over the Raiders in the 1989 season.
Social media was naturally thrilled with the Hawkeyes’ postseason assignment. Here were the best reactions to the announcement for Iowa.
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NCAA Baseball selection show is underway on ESPN2. Exciting day for Iowa baseball.
— Tom Kakert (@HawkeyeReport) May 29, 2023
That’s a great draw, methinks
— Ivan Bologna (@PV_GIA) May 29, 2023
The Iowa Hawkeyes get North Carolina in the Terre Haute Regional
🔥🔥🔥— Justin VanLaere ▶ (@storminspank) May 29, 2023
Let’s Go
— PlannedSickDays (@PlannedSickDays) May 29, 2023
Iowa baseball will head to the Terre Haute, IN, Regional and will face North Carolina on Friday. Host Indiana State will play Wright State. Iowa coach Rick Heller used to coach the ISU Sycamores.
— Mark Woodley (@MarkWoodleyTV) May 29, 2023
Not entirely sure how @IndStBaseball was seeded over Alabama, but they draw North Carolina and Iowa. Those are difficult 2s and 3s — Iowa has the arms to beat anyone.
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) May 29, 2023
14 of the 16 tournament hosts are in the Top 16 of the RPI. Oklahoma State (17) and Auburn (19) were just outside.
If the committee places that much importance on RPI throughout the bracket, then Iowa will be on the line between a 2 and a 3 seed with an RPI at #32.
— Kyle Huesmann (@HuesmannKyle) May 29, 2023
Thanks to Hawkeye Nation for overtaking Omaha today (and the whole week)! Didn’t put our best foot forward today, but these guys have answered the bell all year….and they will again.
— Marty Sutherland (@msuth15) May 29, 2023
RPI is king to the Committee
15 of the top 16 teams are hosting a regional
Campbell (14) is the only one not to host
Auburn (19) is their replacement
John Cohen is the Chairman of the Committee… Auburns AD
Campbell should be HEATED
— Ben Upton (@Ben_Upton5) May 29, 2023
