March 14, 2006
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IOWA CITY – Hawkeyes Stay West
The University of Iowa softball team (11-8) travels to Sacramento, CA, this week to face Sacramento State and to compete in the Capital Classic. The Hawkeyes will play Sacramento State in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Capital Classic, hosted by Sacramento State, kicks off Friday with Iowa playing Jacksonville at 12 p.m. and Long Island at 5 p.m. Iowa will square off against Nevada at 12 p.m. and Nevada at 5 p.m. Saturday, then close the tournament against Syracuse at 11 a.m. Sunday. All times listed are central. Fans can access the Capital Classic website at www.hornetsports.com/sports/softball/tournament/2006/.
More Rain At NIST
The Hawkeyes once again ran into weather issues, this time at the NIST. Iowa was scheduled to play at least six games last weekend, but strong rain cancelled the first day of play. The Haweyes were able to play four games last weekend and finished the NIST with a 3-1 record.
Arnold Perfect Against St. Francis
Senior pitcher Ali Arnold threw the first perfect game of her career in a 15-0, five-inning win over St. Francis. Arnold registered her second career no-hitter, striking out eight batters and walking none.
Iowa scored in all four innings it batted and 10 Hawkeyes recorded at least one hit, while four players collected multiple RBI. Sophomore Emily Nichols went 2-4 with four RBI and four runs scored, including a two-run home run. Senior Stacy May also belted a solo home run against St. Francis.
Hawkeyes Edge San Jose State
Iowa edged host school San Jose State, 3-2, in game two at the NIST. The Hawkeyes collected 10 hits, all singles, and also drew five walks.
Senior Stacy May went 3-4 while junior Mindy Heidgerken was a perfect 3-3. Freshman Brittany Weil tossed a complete game in her sixth win of the season. She collected nine strikeouts and allowed only two hits and one walk.
ASU Tops Iowa
The Hawkeyes faced Arizona State for the fourth time this season with the Sun Devils coming away with a 3-0 victory. Heidgerken and May led the Hawkeye offense, each gonig 2-3 with a double and a stolen base. Freshmen Quinn Morelock and Erin Riemersma both went 1-2.
Weil threw five and two-thirds innings, allowing two earned runs and struck out eight. Arnold, who started the contest, was relieved after one-third of an inning.
Thriller vs. Santa Clara
Iowa rallied from a 2-0 deficit for a 6-5 win against Santa Clara in the final game of the NIST. Iowa posted three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 3-2 lead, but the Broncos tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the fifth. The Hawkeyes added one run in the sixth and two in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead, but the Broncos fought back with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Weil eventually shut down the Broncos, recording two lineouts and a strikeout. She posted 10 K’s in the game.
Going Yard
Sophomore Emily Nichols recorded her second home run of the season against St. Francis at the NIST last weekend.
Nichols, who has 18 career home runs, is only 11 home runs shy of the career home run mark of 29 held by Alicia Gerlach.
Heidgerken Coming On
Sophomore centerfielder Mindy Heidgerken batted .615 (8-13) with two doubles, three RBI and three runs scored last weekend at the NIST. Heidgerken recorded at least one hit in all four games, including a perfect 3-3 against San Jose State. The Long Grove, IA, native is batting .300 on the season.
Arnold Moving Up
Senior Ali Arnold passed former Hawkeye player and assistant coach Debbie Bilbao for fifth on the career strikeout list at the Littlewood Classic earlier this season. Arnold now has 515 career K’s.
Freshmen Making a Difference
Hawkeye freshmen have recorded 27 hits and scored 37 runs so far this season.
Erin Riemersma has started all 19 games at second base while Brittany Weil has started eight games in the circle. Colleen McGlaughlin has started eight games and appeared in 11, while Quinn Morelock has made 11 starts and 16 appearances. Rachel West and Callie Adreon have appeared as pinch runners, and Lindsey Emery has two plate appearance as a pinch hitter.
May Selected in NPL Draft
Shortstop Stacy May was drafted by the Comcast Chicago Bandits, a member of the National Professional Fastpitch League (NPF). May was selected with the fourth pick in the second round. She was the Bandits’ first pick overall.
May has started every game in her career so far at Iowa and is a two-time all-Big Ten selection. She was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2003. She joins current Akron Racer Kristin Johnson as the second Hawkeye to be a member of the NPF.
Iowa vs. Michigan on TV
Iowa’s softball contest vs. Michigan on April 15 at Pearl Field will be broadcast to a national cable audience on College Sports Television (CSTV). The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. start. In addition, the telecast can also be seen statewide on Mediacom’s Connections Channel.
This is the first time in school history that a regular season home game has been televised.
Early Honors
Senior Stacy May and freshman Brittany Weil were both named to the Diamond Fun and Sun Classic all-Tournament team.
May batted .462 (6-13) with three doubles during the opening tournment while Weil went 4-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 18 K’s in her first action as a Hawkeye.