Feb. 23, 2010
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ON DECK
The University of Iowa softball team travels to Atlanta, GA this weekend to compete in the NFCA Classic. Below is Iowa’s tournament schedule. All times listed are central.
Friday, Feb. 26
vs. #9 Alabama 3 p.m.
vs. Maryland 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 27
vs. Arkansas 12:30 p.m.
vs. N.C. State 3 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28
vs. #11 Georgia Tech 9 a.m.
NFCA TOURNAMENT NOTES
? Iowa is 1-0 all-time vs. eighth-ranked Alabama. The Hawkeyes won the only meeting in the series, 4-3, in 1999 at the USF Speedline Invitational in Tampa, FL.
? Iowa is 1-0 all-time vs. Maryland. The Hawkeyes won the only meeting in the series, 3–0, in 1999 at the USF Speedline Invitational in Tampa, FL.
? Iowa is 1-3 all-time vs. Arkansas. The Hawkeyes fell to the Razorbacks, 2-1, at the Metrodome Tournament in the 2010 season opener.
? Saturday’s 3 p.m. contest vs. N.C. State will be the first softball meeting between the two schools.
? Iowa is 0-2 all-time vs. 11th-ranked Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets won the latest meeting, 6-0, in 2007. The Hawkeyes played at Georgia Tech in the 2009 NCAA Regionals but the two teams did not meet.
HAWKEYES ON THE WEB
Fans that can’t make it to Atlanta, GA 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.
CARMO, CARMO, CARMO, CARMO, CARMO, CA CARMODY
Junior Chelsey Carmody hit 7-for-14 with two homeruns and seven RBI at last week’s Littlewood Classic. The Missouri native had just two career homeruns entering 2010 but has blasted four long balls through the first nine games of the season. Her 13 hits are tied for the fourth most in the Big Ten and her 27 total bases are the second-highest total in the conference.
ZUST GOES THE DISTANCE
Prior to their contest against fifth-ranked Iowa State, senior Amana Zust hurled the Hawkeyes to a 6-2 record by tossing four straight complete games (Drake, Texas State, Rutgers, Illinois State). Zust earned her first shutout of the season in Iowa’s 7-0 blanking of Rutgers and allowed just four earned runs in 28 innings (1.00 ERA) and struck out 15 hitters during the four-game stretch.
LINDSEY AT THE BAT
Senior Lindsey Digmann has hit safely in seven of Iowa’s nine games this season. The Marion, IA native leads Iowa in runs scored (7) and is tied for the team lead with 13 hits, the fourth highest total in the Big Ten. She also leads the Hawkeyes with four stolen bases in four attempts.
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Sophomore Liz Watkins leads the Big Ten in triples (2). |
EIGHT AND COUNTING…
Iowa was held without a homerun in the season opener vs. Arkansas, but has homered in every game since. Below is Iowa’s HR chart:
Date, Opp., HR.
2/12 Western Illinois Jenny Schuelke (1)
2/13 Drake Katie Brown (1)
2/13 Iowa State Katie Brown (2)
2/14 Drake Chelsey Carmody (1)
2/19 Texas State Chelsey Carmody (2)
2/19 Rutgers Liz Watkins (1)
2/20 Illinois State Chelsey Carmody (3)
2/20 Arizona State Chelsey Carmody (4)
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Iowa’s eight position players have started every game at their respective positions this season. Around the horn, Iowa’s iron-women include Liz Watkins (C), Katie Brown (1b), Chelsey Carmody (2b), Katie Keim (SS), Lindsey Digmann (3b), Jenny Schuelke (LF), Johnnie Dowling (CF) and Taylor Leichsenring (RF).
TRIPLE THREAT
Sophomore Liz Watkins played in 56 games last season without recording a single three-base hit. Apparently eager to avoid repeating such a feat, the Taylor Ridge, IL native banged out two triples in Iowa’s opening weekend and now currently leads the Big Ten in three-baggers.
ROOKIE START, VETERAN EFFORT
After dropping the season-opener for the first time in five seasons, freshman Chelsea Lyon pitched Iowa to its first `W’ of 2010 with a veteran performance. In her collegiate debut, Lyon allowed just five hits in six-plus innings while collecting the win in the Hawkeyes’ 2-1 victory over Western Illinois.
OPPONENTS IN THE POLLS
Seven Iowa opponents are ranked in both the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 preseason polls. Michigan (4/4), UCLA (5/3), Arizona State (7/10), Alabama (9/7), Georgia Tech (11/8), Ohio State (17/16) and Northwestern (23/22) are all ranked.
THREE-FOR-FOUR
The Hawkeyes return three of their top four hitters from a 2009. Senior Katie Brown, junior Chelsey Carmody and sophomore Liz Watkins hit .337 collectively in 168 combined games.
ROAD WARRIORS
Iowa is scheduled to play its first 26 games away from Iowa City. The Hawkeyes open the home portion of their schedule with a doubleheader against South Dakota Mar. 20 at Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes ran up an impressive 31-13 record outside of Iowa City last season, including a 13-9 mark in true road contests and an 18-4 record in neutral site games.
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Sophomore Katie Keim has started all nine games at shortstop after playing third base last season. |
SHUFFLING THE DECK
The Hawkeyes have shifted around the diamond since 2009. Lindsey Digmann has moved from left field to third base. Katie Keim has rotated around the diamond, moving from third base to shortstop, while Katie Brown saw action on the mound and at first base during the Hawkeyes’ opening weekend.
NOW BATTING FOR IOWA
The Hawkeyes welcome eight newcomers to the 2010 roster. Juniors Stephanie Ochoa and Sarah Spiering hit campus after two celebrated careers at the Junior College level. The Hawkeyes have six freshmen on this year’s roster, including Iowa natives Ashley Akers, Johnnie Dowling, Sam Valentine and Ashley Vanderloo. Oklahoma native Chelsea Lyon and Oregon native Jordan Goschie round out the freshmen class.
METRODOME ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS
Juniors Chelsey Carmody and Jenny Schuelke were named to the all-tournament team at last weekend’s Metrodome Tournament. Carmody batted .400 with a homerun and a pair of RBI while Schuelke hit .385 and belted the game-winning homerun in Iowa’s 2-1 victory over Western Illinois.
RETURNING AWARD WINNERS
Sophomore Liz Watkins was given three awards at the 2009 softball banquet; Most Improved, Coaches and Peg Augspurger Hawkeye Heart award. Sophomore Katie Keim shared the Most Improved award with Watkins. Seniors Katie Brown and Amanda Zust shared the team’s Golden Glove award.