Feb. 14, 2006
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IOWA CITY – Hawkeyes Head West
The University of Iowa softball team heads to Tempe, AZ, this weekend to compete in the Littlewood Classic hosted by Arizona State University. The Hawkeyes are scheduled to face Illinois State at 3:30 p.m. and Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. Friday. Iowa will see Illinois State again at 2 p.m. and Arizona State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The Classic concludes with Iowa facing Arizona State for a third time at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. All times listed are central. Fans can access live stats (gametracker) via www.hawkeyesports.com.
Iowa Plays Well in Miami
The Hawkeyes opened the 2006 season with a 4-1 record at the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic in Miami. Iowa defeated No. 10 Georgia, 6-5 in the season opener and followed with wins over Florida International and North Carolina. Senior Kylie Murray recorded two hits, including a home run, two RBI and two runs scored while senior Stacy May collected two hits against Georgia. May led the team against North Carolina with two of Iowa’s three hits.
Arkansas snapped Iowa’s three-game winning streak with a 1-0 defeat, but the Hawkeyes avenged the loss with a 5-1 defeat in the final day of play. Five different Hawkeyes had hits against Arkansas in the win.
Hawkeyes In The Rankings
Iowa is ranked 15th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is updated every Wednesday.
Early Honors
Senior Stacy May and freshman Brittany Weil were both named to the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic all-Tournament team.
Weil Impressive in Debut
Freshman pitcher Brittany Weil compiled a 4-1 record with a 0.98 ERA and 18 strikeouts at the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic last weekend. Weil made her collegiate debut against Georgia and threw three innings of relief for the win and struck out Georgia’s clean-up batter for the last out of the game.
Weil threw a complete game shutout against Florida International in her first start as a Hawkeye. She had a one-hitter through six innings.
Staying Hot
Senior Stacy May started where she left off in 2005, going 6-13 (.462) with three doubles and three runs scored last weekend. May leads the team in eight offensive categories.
Records Aren’t Everything
Senior Ali Arnold pitched well for the Hawkeyes last weekend despite her three no decisions. Arnold struck out a combined six batters and held her opponents to just a .174 average in Miami.
One is All You Need
Four of Iowa’s first five games were decided by one run. The Hawkeyes defeated Georgia (6-5), FIU (3-2) and North Carolina (1-0) by run, but fell to Arkansas (1-0) by a single run.
Gerlick Returns to Lineup
Junior Emily Gerlick returned to the Iowa lineup last weekend after suffering a torn ACL in the openeing weekend of the 2005 season. Gerlick appeared in four games, starting one. She entered as a pinch hitter in three games and started in left field against Arkansas.
What a Way to Start
Freshman Rachel West scored game-winning runs against Georgia and Florida International last weekend. West, who was used as a pinch-runner in both games, stole second base in the top of the sixth inning against Georgia. She collided with the Georgia shortstop after a Brittany Weil single and was thrown out at the plate, but the umpires called obstruction and awarded Iowa the eventual game-winning run.
West replaced Sami Baugh in the second inning against FIU. She advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt and stole third. West was caught in a rundown between third base and home but scored after a throw sailed into the outfield.
Arnold Moving Up
Senior Ali Arnold currently ranks sixth on the career strikeout list with 475 K’s. Next on the list is Debbie Bilbao with 476 strikeouts.
Freshmen See Time
All seven freshmen saw time in Miami last weekend.
Brittany Weil started two games in the circle, Erin Riemersma started all five games at second base, Colleen McGalughlin started three games as the designated player and Quinn Morelock started three games in right field. Rachel West appeared in four games as a pinch-runner while Callie Adreon did the same in two games. Lindsey Emery had one pinch-hit at bat against Arkansas on Sunday.
What Might Have Been…
With a 5-1 win over Arkansas Sunday, the Hawkeyes would have advanced to the championship game of the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic. But due to pre-arranged travel plans, Iowa could not play for the championship.
Tough Schedule in `06
The Hawkeyes are scheduled to face six opponents that appear in both polls.
Iowa defeated Georgia at the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic and will play Arizona State three times at the Littlewooed Classic hosted by the Sun Devils. The Hawkeyes will see two ranked opponents at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Tennessee, who advanced to the College World Series last season, and Louisiana-Lafayette. Iowa is scheduled to play California at the National Invitational Softball Tournament (NIST).
Along with Iowa, the Big Ten features three schools ranked in the top 25. Michigan is the top-ranked team in both polls along with Northwestern.
Headshots Now Available Online
Media members interested in downloading headshots of current Hawkeye players and coaches can visit pics.hawkeyesports.com.