March 3, 2009
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Iowa Softball wallpaper
- SoftBlog
On Deck ? The University of Iowa softball team travels to Long Beach, CA, to compete in the Long Beach Tournament. Below is Iowa’s schedule at the tournament. Iowa will then travel to Fullerton, CA, Sunday to face Cal State Fullerton at 11 a.m. All times listed are central.
Friday, March 6
vs. Longwood – 1:15 p.m.
vs. #4 UCLA – 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
at Long Beach State – 10:45 a.m.
vs. FIU – 5:30 p.m.
Hawkeyes on the Web ? Fan’s who can’t make it to California can follow the action at hawkeyesports.com, where live stats (Gametracker) will be available. The “GT” link can be found under the calendar tab on the right-hand side of the hawkeyesports.com home page, or on the softball schedule page.
Iowa in the Polls ? The Hawkeyes are listed as receiving votes in both the latest USA Today/NFCA and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 polls.
Opponents in the Polls ? Five Iowa opponents are ranked in either the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 or the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 polls.
UCLA (4th/3rd), Arizona State (7th/10th), Michigan (9th/8th), Northwestern (16th/17th) and Ohio State (21st/16th) are ranked in both polls. Florida State is listed as receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and is ranked 25th in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.
In addition, Texas is receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.
K-Club Classic Recap ? Iowa moved to 12-3 overall with five-straight wins at the K-Club Classic, hosted by Kennesaw State University.
The Hawkeyes opened with a 4-0 win over Drexel, followed by an 8-0, five-inning triumph over Memphis.
Saturday was more of the same for Iowa, with a 5-0 win over Miami (OH) and a 4-0 victory over Buffalo.
Iowa closed the weekend with an 8-0, five-inning thrashing of host-school Kennesaw State.
Weil Tabbed Big Ten Pitcher of the Week ? Senior Brittany Weil was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Feb. 23 for her efforts in the K-Club Classic. It was the sixth time Weil has received the honor and the first time this season.
Weil became just the second player in Iowa school history to throw two no-hitters in a single season. She tossed a five-inning no-hitter against Kennesaw State while striking out 12 of the 19 batters she faced. Only four Owl runners reached base (one walk, two HBP, one fielding error). She joins former Hawkeye all-American Debbie Bilbao (1997) as the only pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season. Weil tossed her first career no-hitter against Kent State Feb. 13.
The Garden Grove, CA, native was one strike away from a perfect game the previous day against Miami (OH). Weil took a perfect game through 6.2 innings, but gave up a slow-rolling single with a two-strike count and two outs in the bottom of the seventh. She retired the first 20 batters before giving up the lone hit and struck out 13.
Weil threw her sixth complete game and fourth shutout of the season against Memphis. She allowed one hit, which was to the first batter of the game, then retired the next 15 batters. She also struck out nine.
Weil threw 1.2 innings in relief against Buffalo and struck out five of the seven batters she faced. She also struck out two of the three batters she faced in one inning of relief against Drexel.
For the weekend, Weil threw 19.2 innings of shutout softball, with five appearances. She started three games and threw complete game shutouts in all three starts. Weil struck out 41 of the 68 batters she faced, allowing only eight to reach base.
Weil has been named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week more than any other player to pitch at Iowa. Last season, Weil became the first Iowa player to garner the award four times in a single season.
No Runs For You ? Senior Brittany Weil has pitched at least one inning in Iowa’s last six games, and has not allowed a run in 25.2 innings.
Weil has struck out 50 batters with just six hits and two walks over the six-inning span.
Moving Up the K Ladder ? Senior Brittany Weil stuck out 41 batters last weekend at the K-Club Classic, moving her into second place on the all-time K’s list at Iowa.
Weil only trails Iowa career strikeout leader Lisa Birocci by 107 K’s, who sat down 946 batters from 2002-05.
On Fire ? Iowa is currently on a six-game winning streak, and has not allowed a run during the streak.
The Hawkeyes have played 37-straight innings without giving up a run, which is the longest opponent scoreless streak since 2004, when Iowa went 46 innings without giving up a run.
In addition, Iowa has plated 37 runs over the six-game winning streak.
Blevins Closing in on Milestone ? Head Coach Gayle Blevins is closing in on yet another milestone at Iowa.
Blevins, who is the second-winningest active coach in Division I softball history, enters the Long Beach Tournament just 10 wins away from collecting her 900th career win at Iowa. Blevins is the most successful coach in Iowa softball history, with a record of 890-404-3 (.686).
Senior Leaders Stepping Up ? Seniors Colleen McGlaughlin and Erin Riemersma both had big weekends at the K-Club Classic.
McGlaughlin batted .563 (9-16) with three doubles and eight RBI, while Riemersma had two home runs, one double, three RBI and an .875 slugging percentage.
Never Off the Field ? Six Hawkeyes have played in all 15 games this season, while five players have started every game.
Erin Riemersma, Colleen McGlaughlin, Taylor Leichsenring, Sam Heinzman and Katie Brown have started every game in 2009, while Katie Keim has played in all 15 games with 14 starts.
Long Beach Tournament Notes
? Senior Brittany Weil is from California (Garden Grove).
? Long Beach State traveled to Iowa City last season for NCAA Regionals as the No. 16 national seed. Iowa eliminated Long Beach State from the regional with a 5-2 win. Chelsey Carmody collected three hits, while Taylor Leichsenring and Colleen McGlaughlin each had two. McGlaughlin added two RBI.
? UCLA freshman Andrea Harrison and sophomore Monica Harrison are from the same hometown (Garden Grove, CA) and attended the same high school (Pacifica) as Hawkeye senior Brittany Weil.
? UCLA has a 2-2 record against Big Ten teams this season. The Bruins defeated Indiana (10-2 in five innings) and Northwestern (16-10), but lost to Purdue (2-1) and Michigan (7-4).