PAPILLION, Neb. (Interstat) — Austin Wynns homered in the second inning, and the Iowa Cubs held on for a 2-1 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in the first game of a doubleheader at Werner Park.

The International League (AAA) contest lasted 1 hour, 50 minutes. Iowa, the visiting team, finished with five hits. Omaha, the home team, had two hits. The Cubs scored once in the first inning and once in the second. The Storm Chasers scored their lone run later. Iowa improved to 60-80-3. Omaha moved to 62-79-1.

Iowa opened the scoring in the first. BJ Murray Jr. singled on a ground ball to second baseman Peyton Wilson. Owen Miller followed with a line-drive single to left fielder Gavin Cross, sending Murray to second. Kevin Alcántara flew out to right fielder Matthew Lugo, advancing Murray to third. Chas McCormick then grounded into a force out from third baseman Jacob Berry to Wilson. Murray scored, Miller was out at second, and McCormick reached first. James Triantos lined out softly to shortstop Colton Becker to end the inning.

The Cubs added a run in the second. Jordan Nwogu grounded out to pitcher John Means, and Ben Cowles grounded out to Berry. Wynns then homered on a fly ball to left field. Justin Dean grounded out to Becker to finish the inning.

Omaha threatened early but could not score until later. In the bottom of the first, Javier Vaz walked, but Matthew Lugo, Cross and Brett Squires struck out. Peyton Wilson and Luca Tresh struck out in the second around a Carson Roccaforte groundout. In the third, Berry and Becker struck out, and Vaz lined out sharply to center fielder Justin Dean.

The Storm Chasers broke through when Lugo flew out to left, then Cross doubled on a sharp line drive to right fielder Jordan Nwogu. Squires followed with a single to center fielder Justin Dean, scoring Cross. Roccaforte struck out, and Wilson grounded out to first baseman Kevin Alcántara.

Iowa put runners on in the fifth. Cowles flew out, Wynns walked, and Dean singled. Murray walked to load the bases. Owen Miller then grounded into a double play from Wilson to Squires, ending the threat. Omaha also left runners aboard in the sixth. Squires walked, Roccaforte walked, and Wilson was hit by a pitch. Luca Tresh struck out on a foul tip to end the inning.

In the seventh, Nwogu singled, but Cowles flew out and Wynns grounded out. Dean walked, and Murray struck out swinging. Omaha went down in order in the bottom of the seventh. Berry grounded out, Becker struck out, and Vaz grounded out to second baseman Ben Cowles.

Grant Kipp earned the win for Iowa. He pitched three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run with one walk and three strikeouts. Kipp is now 5-4 this season. Justin Steele worked two hitless innings, walking one and striking out five. Tyler Ferguson recorded the save, his fourth, with 1 1/3 hitless innings and two strikeouts. Antoine Kelly added 2/3 of a scoreless inning, walking two and striking out one.

John Means took the loss for Omaha. He pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs with one walk and three strikeouts. Means is 0-1 this season. Matt Moore followed with 1 2/3 hitless innings, walking one. Spencer Bivens pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one hit with one walk and one strikeout.

Wynns went 1 for 2 with one home run and one RBI for Iowa. McCormick went 0 for 3 but drove in a run. Squires went 1 for 2 with one RBI for Omaha. Murray and Miller each singled as part of Iowa’s early offense. Iowa pitchers combined for seven strikes, 40 balls and seven balls in play. Omaha pitchers combined for 15 strikes, 42 balls and 15 balls in play.

The teams are scheduled to continue the series with games Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, and Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. The opener followed Iowa’s 3-2 win at Omaha on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026. Before the game, Interstat’s game simulator projected Omaha would win 5-3, and Interstat’s ELO system gave Omaha a 53.6 percent chance to win.