March 23, 2010
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ON DECK
The University of Iowa softball team returns to Pearl Field to host Illinois State Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. Admission to Pearl Field is $3 for adults. There is no charge for youth (high school age and younger) or UI students with a valid student ID.
BIG TEN OPENER
The Hawkeyes open the Big Ten season this weekend at Michigan State. Iowa faces the Spartans in two single games beginning at 12 p.m. (CT) Saturday and Sunday.
LIVE AUDIO FROM YOUR COMPUTER
You can follow the Hawkeyes from your computer via the All-Access page at hawkeyesports.com. Voice of Iowa softball Rob Brooks will be calling the action live at all home and away events for the remainder of the season. Hawkeye All-Access is a subscription service that charges $9.95 per month.
LIVE VIDEO FROM YOUR COMPUTER
BigTenNetwork.com will stream six games live from Pearl Field this season, beginning Wednesday when Iowa hosts Illinois State. BigTenNetwork.com will pick up action with the first pitch at 4 p.m. BigTenNetwork.com is a subscription service that charges $2.99 per event.
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Senior Amanda Zust was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week March 22 |
HAWKEYES ON THE WEB
Fans that can’t make it to Pearl Field for the home opener 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.
TRIPLE CROWN HAWKEYE?
As the season rolls along, so does junior Chelsey Carmody. The St. Louis, MO native leads Iowa two of three triple crown categories, trailing only Katie Brown the RBI chase, 17-16. After hitting just two career homeruns combined her freshman and sophomore campaigns, Carmody leads Iowa with six long balls in 2010. Her .372 batting average leads the team and her 16 RBI are just three shy of matching her career-high (19, 2008).
GOING… GOING… GOSCHIE… GONE!
Freshman Jordan Goschie enjoyed a career day in Iowa’s 2010 home opening double header vs. South Dakota (3/21). Goschie drove in two and picked up her first collegiate hit in Game 1 vs. the Coyotes. She then belted her first career homerun in Game 2 with a solo shot over the left field wall.
WHERE’S DIGS?
Senior Lindsey Digmann has been a fixture in the Iowa lineup, but not in one particular place. After starting the first 23 games at third base, Digs has seen time in leftfield, centerfield and as the designated player. She has also bounced around the lineup – hitting leadoff (.310), second (.412) and ninth (.333) in the batting order.
Q: WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
A: A little bit of everything. Senior Katie Brown has been Iowa’s do-it-all this season. She has driven in a team leading 17 runs and hit four homeruns while rotating between the three-hole and clean-up spot in the batting order. The senior from Spirit Lake, IA also makes the occasional appearance in the circle. In four relief appearances, Brown has held right-handed hitters to a lowly .100 batting average. In her first career start since her freshman season (2007), Brown struck out four batters in a rain-shortened 3-3 tie vs. Saint Mary’s.
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Sophomore Liz Watkins homered and drove in five runs in Iowa’s 10-2 win over South Dakota. |
WELCOME HOME Amanda Zust
Senior Amanda Zust kicked off the 2010 home opener in spectacular fashion March 21. Zust led Iowa to an 8-0 win over South Dakota by pitching her second career no-hitter. She struck out a season-high eight hitters while tossing her 11th complete game. Zust leads the Hawkeyes and ranks third in the Big Ten in innings pitched. A native of Des Moines, IA, Zust has tossed 110.2 innings in 2010. She has allowed just two earned runs her last 28 innings and is 3-0 in her last four starts. The Big Ten honored Zust for her efforts by naming the senior Big Ten Pitcher of the Week.
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 has banged out four triples in 2010 and is currently tied for the league lead in three-baggers.
HOT OFF THE BENCH
Like most seasons, Head Coach Gayle Blevins is using Iowa’s depth throughout the course of each ballgame. Senior Heidi Daumen has been called on to pinch-hit twice and both times she has answered the call of duty. Daumen laid down a sacrifice bunt in her first at-bat of 2010 and drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning with squeeze bunt versus Florida Atlantic (3/18). Freshman Ashley Akers has made 20 appearances as a pinch runner and ranks second on the team in stolen bases (8) and runs scored (14). Freshman Sam Valentine has appeared 17 times as a pinch runner. She has scored seven runs and is perfect in four stolen base attempts.
DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER
Iowa boasts four position players that have started every game at their respective positions this season. Around the horn, Iowa’s iron-women include Katie Brown (1b), Lindsey Digmann (3B-DP), Jenny Schuelke (LF) and Johnnie Dowling (CF). Liz Watkins (C), Katie Keim (2B/3B/SS), Taylor Leichsenring (RF) and Chelsey Carmody (2b/SS) have started 26 of Iowa’s 27 games.
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 (2/3), UCLA (5/6), Arizona State (8/11), Alabama (7/5), Georgia Tech (11/8), Ohio State (22/22) and Illinois (18/20) are all ranked.
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Freshman Jordan Goschie hit her first career homerun in Iowa’s 10-2 win over South Dakota. |
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 played its first 25 games of 2010 outside of Iowa City. The Hawkeyes finished 12-12-1 on their road trip across the country. Iowa played in Minnesota, Arizona, Georgia, California and Florida before their first scheduled home game, March 21. 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.
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.
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.
BTN.com FIRST PITCH
The Big Ten Network’s live softball coverage begins with the Illinois State-Iowa game in Iowa City. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24, and the game will be streamed live.