March 28, 2006
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IOWA CITY – This Week
The University of Iowa softball team (17-12) conludes a five game homestand Wednesday when they host Upper Iowa University. First pitch at Pearl Field is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The Hawkeyes open the 2006 Big Ten campaign on the road against Illinois (11-15) and Northwestern (18-8) this weekend. The Hawkeyes face the Illini at 6 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Saturday. Iowa plays Northwestern in a doubleheader Sunday starting at 12 p.m. All times listed are central.
Fans can access livestats (gametracker) via www.hawkeyesports.com. Gametracker will be available for every contest this week.
Iowa Claims Hawkeye Classic Title
With a perfect 4-0 record, the Hawkeyes claimed the 2006 Hawkeye Classic championship. Iowa defeated Loyola-Chicago (5-0), South Dakota State in 10 innings (5-3), North Dakota State (3-0) and Ball State (5-0).
Freshman Erin Riemersma and sophomore Emily Nichols each had solid performances at the plate. Riemersma finished the weekend with a .400 average (4-10), two doubles and two RBI. Nichols recorded a .385 average (5-13) with a home run, two doubles and four RBI. She plated the game-winning run in the 10th inning against South Dakota State and blasted her third home run of the season against North Dakota State. Nichols also had a .769 slugging percentage.
Both senior Ali Arnold and freshman Brittany Weil had impressive home debuts in the circle. Arnold finished with a 1-0 record and did not allow an earned run the entire weekend. Weil tallied a 3-0 record with 25 strikeouts. She held her opponents to a .162 batting average for the tournament.
Scouting Upper Iowa
The Upper Iowa Peacocks are 11-12 overall this season.
Katie Kilburg leads the Peacock offense with a .431 batting average. The Peacocks have registered 23 home runs this season, including five players with three or more.
Angie Weber and Kacie Estes have split time in the circle. Weber is 6-6 with a 2.72 ERA while Estes is 5-6 with a 4.40 ERA.
The Peacocks are coached by Brent Kuker. This is the first meeting between the two teams.
Scouting Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini are 11-15 overall this season.
Jenna Hall is batting .480 with nine home runs and 28 RBI to lead the Illini offense. Hall also carries a .947 slugging percentage.
Claire DeVreese is 8-7 with a 5.14 ERA and paces the team with 53 K’s. Kacey Coonce has 15 starts with a 3-8 record. The Illini are coached by Terri Sullivan. Iowa leads the all-time series, 7-6.
Scouting Northwestern
The 15th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats are 18-8 overall this season.
Tammy Williams and Garland Cooper lead the Wildcat offense. Williams tops the team with a .349 batting average, while Cooper has a .342 average and 18 RBI. Kristen Amegin also has five home runs and 21 RBI.
The Wildcats have a tough combination in the circle with Eileen Canney and Courtany Foster. Canney has a 1.67 ERA with 137 K’s while Foster has a 1.96 ERA with 102 K’s. The Wildcat pitching staff has combined for 10 shutouts this season.
The Wildcats are coached by Kate Drohan. The all-time series is tied, 41-41.
May and Nichols in Big Ten Stats
Both Stacy May and Emily Nichols are ranked in the top 10 in different Big Ten offensive categories.
May ranks fourth in batting average (.382) and hits (34), fifth in on base percentage (.455), sixth in total bases (47) and seventh in runs scored (21).
Nichols ranks first in sacrifice flies (3) fourth in doubles (8), seventh in RBI (19), eighth in slugging percentage (.563) and batting average (.350), and ninth in total bases (45).
Closing In On School Records
Sophomore Emily Nichols blasted her third home run of the season against North Dakota State last weekend. Nichols only needs 11 more home runs to break the Iowa career home run mark of 29, set by Alicia Gerlach (1999-02).
Senior Stacy May has 42 career doubles, which is only seven doubles shy of the career record of 52, held by Kari Knopf (1994-97).
Freshmen Making a Difference
Hawkeye freshmen have recorded 33 hits and scored 34 runs so far this season.
Erin Riemersma has started all 29 games at second base while Brittany Weil has started 13 games in the circle. Quinn Morelock has appeared in 24 games in either the outfield or as the designated player. Colleen McGlaughlin has played in 19 games with 10 starts. Rachel West has 23 apperances and Callie Adreon has played in 16 games, both as pinch runners. Lindsey Emery has four plate apperances as a pinch-hitter.
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.
In addition, May was also named to the Capital Classic all-tournament team. May finished the Capital Classic with a .417 batting average and did not commit an error all tournament.
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.