March 10, 2009
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Iowa Softball wallpaper
- SoftBlog
IOWA CITY – On Deck ? The University of Iowa softball team will head to Florida for its annual Spring Break trip, starting this weekend. The Hawkeyes open the trip by competing in the Stetson Classic in DeLand, FL. Below is Iowa’s schedule at the Classic. All times listed are Central.
Friday, March 13
vs. Hartford 12:30 p.m.
at Stetson 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 14
vs. Cornell 12:30 p.m.
vs. Hartford 3 p.m.
Sunday, March 15
vs. Cornell 10 a.m.
Hawkeyes on the Web ? Fans who can’t make it to Florida this weekend can follow the action at gohatters.com, where live stats and live video will be available. Links for live stats can be found by clicking on the “Live Stats” tab at the top of the gohatters.com home page. Live video requires a $9.95 payment, and can be accessed under the “Live Events” tab.
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 ? Six Iowa opponents are ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 polls.
UCLA (5th/4th), Arizona State (6th/11th), Michigan (10th/10th), Northwestern (13th/12th), Ohio State (22nd/17th) and Florida State (25th/24th) are all ranked.
In addition, Texas is receiving votes in both polls while Illinois and Long Beach State are receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25.
Long Beach Recap ? The Hawkeyes improved to 16-4 after recording four victories at the Long Beach Tournament last weekend in Lakewood, CA.
Iowa opened with a 6-0 win over Longwood, but fell, 2-1 in eight innings on a walk-off home run against No. 4 UCLA.
The Hawkeyes rebounded with a 3-0 victory against Long Beach State Saturday, followed by a 6-5 win against Florida International.
Iowa then traveled to Fullerton and escaped with a 3-1, 10-inning triumph over Cal State Fullerton.
On Fire ? Iowa has won 10 of its last 11 games, including three in a row.
The Hawkeyes have played 75.1 innings during the streak, and have surrendered only six earned runs.
In addition, Iowa has plated 56 runs and is batting .316 over the past 11 contests.
Scoreless Streak Snapped ? UCLA’s two-run, walk-off home run ended Iowa’s opponent scoreless streak at 51 innings, which is the second-longest shutout stretch in school history.
The longest opponent scoreless streak is 82 innings, which Iowa accomplished during the 1992 season.
Microscopic ERA ? Iowa’s pitching staff enters the weekend with a 1.08 earned run average. Last season, Iowa finished the season ranked seventh nationally in ERA at 1.23.
Senior Brittany Weil has only given up 10 earned runs over 87 innings pitched, while junior Amanda Zust has allowed 11 earned runs in 49 innings of work. The duo has also limited its opponents to just a .149 batting average and has 170 strikeouts to 48 walks.
Call Her Clutch ? Senior Sam Heinzman has delievered for Iowa in some important situations this season.
The Omaha, NE, native drove in the game-winning run in extra innings against Kent State with a sacrifice fly. Heinzman’s walk-off RBI also gave Brittany Weil her first-career no-hitter.
Heinzman collected the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth against UCLA, before Iowa gave up the late lead in the bottom of the frame.
Against Cal State Fullerton, Heinzman tallied a triple and scored the game-tying run, forcing extra innings. She also knocked in the game-winning run in the 10th inning against the Titans.
Never Getting a Rest ? Senior Colleen McGlaughlin has started every game since her sophomore season, totaling 140-straight games.
McGlaughlin has played wherever she is needed at Iowa, including 61 starts at third base, 27 at first base, 24 at second base, 22 in the outfield and six at shortstop.
Watkins Stepping In ? Freshman Liz Watkins has started a total of 16 games behind the plate, including the last 14 in a row.
Watkins leads the team with three home runs and is tied for the team lead with 13 RBI.
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 Stetson Classic just six wins away from collecting her 900th career win at Iowa. Blevins is the most successful coach in Iowa softball history, with a record of 894-405-3 (.688).
Never Off the Field ? Six Hawkeyes have played in all 20 games this season, while four players have started every game.
Erin Riemersma, Colleen McGlaughlin, Sam Heinzman and Katie Brown have started every game in 2009. Katie Keim has played in all 20 games with 18 starts while Taylor Leichsenring has 19 starts in 20 games played.
Weil Drafted ? Senior pitcher Brittany Weil was one of 25 NCAA softball seniors chosen in the National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) Draft Feb. 17. Weil, who wears No. 7 at Iowa, was drafted by the Akron Rachers as the seventh overall pick in the draft (second pick of the second round).
Weil, who will join the Racers once the Hawkeyes finish their 2009 season, is the fourth Hawkeye to play in the NPF, and the third since 2005 to be drafted. Stacy May and Emily Nichols were both selected in the second round of the NPF Draft by the Chicago Bandits in 2005 and 2008 respectively. Kristin Johnson was also a member of the Akron Racers from 2003-07.
McGlaughlin Up For CLASS Award ? Senior Colleen McGlaughlin is one of 30 softball student athletes nationally to be nominated for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.
The award, which stands for “Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School,” focuses on the total student-athlete. To be eligible, student-athletes must have notable accomplishments in four areas of excellence: classroom, character, community and competition.
The list of 30 candidates will be narrowed down to 10 finalists midway through the softball season. Ballots will then be distributed through a nationwide voting system and the award winner will be recognized at the 2009 NCAA Women’s College World Series.