April 2, 2013
- Read the April issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- PURCHASE SEASON TICKETS
- 2013 Media Guide
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa softball team (20-13) continues action with its first in-state game on Wednesday when it travels to Drake (19-12). First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. at Ron Buel Field in Des Moines, Iowa.
ON THE RADIO
Fans can listen via the All-Access page at hawkeyesports.com. Rob Brooks, the voice of Iowa softball, will call the action. Hawkeye All-Access is a subscription service that charges $9.95 per month.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Hawkeye fans can follow the University of Iowa softball team on social media platforms Twitter (@iowasoftball) and Facebook (facebook.com/iowahawkeyessoftball). Game updates will be tweeted during each game.
ON THE WEB
Fans can follow the action at hawkeyesports.com, where live stats (Gametracker) will be available. The live “GT” can be found under the calendar tab on the right-hand side of the hawkeyesports.com home page, or on the softball schedule page.
QUICK HITS
? Iowa is 24th in the updated NCAA Division I Softball RPI, and receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
? The Hawkeyes are 14-2 this season when scoring first, 6-3 in true road games, and 19-8 away from Iowa City.
? The Black and Gold are 13-0 when allowing their opponents to two runs or less, and 15-1 when out-hitting their opponents.
? Iowa has five wins against ranked opponents this season: No. 11 Louisville, No. 11 Louisiana-Lafayette, No. 15 Stanford, No. 21 Kentucky, No. 24 Oregon State.
? Megan Blank, who became the ninth player in school history to garner first team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman, and the ninth to earn all-region recognition as a freshman in 2012, leads the Big Ten with 38 RBIs. The sophomore was named Big Ten Player of the Week on March 4.
? Blank is 28th nationally in RBIs per game (1.15).
? Senior Johnnie Dowling is tied for the league lead with Wisconsin’s Mary Massei with three triples. Dowling ranks 31st nationally.
? Iowa has been hit-by-pitch 46 times this season to lead the Big Ten. Minnesota ranks second (30).
? Bradi Wall has been plunked 17 times this season. The senior leads the league and has twice as many HBPs as the next closest league player in the rankings. Wall is third nationally in HBPs per game (.52).
SERIES HISTORY
Iowa is 33-10 all-time against Drake. The Bulldogs topped the Hawkeyes, 1-0, in the last meeting on April 4, 2012, in Iowa City.
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Fans interested in attending home games at Pearl Field should visit hawkeyesports.com or contact the UI Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800 IA-HAWKS to secure season tickets. Season tickets are currently on sale for $20 for the reserved seating area, $15 for general public in the general admission area, and $12 for faculty/staff general admission. All youth, 18 and younger, and UI students are admitted free to all home games. Purchase is required for all reserved seats, regardless of age. Iowa opens its home slate with a three-game set against Big Ten rival Minnesota, March 22-24. The Hawkeyes will also host three-game series against Nebraska (April 5-7) and Penn State (April 26-28), in addition to a doubleheader against Illinois (April 23). No. 8 Missouri comes to town (April 17) for a doubleheader, and Iowa State travels to Iowa City for the annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series game on May 1.
OPPONENT NOTES
? Drake is 19-12 overall and 5-2 in league play.
? The Bulldogs are 1-2 at Ron Buel Field this season, dropping 2-of-3 to Missouri State last weekend.
? Drake has played three Big Ten foes. The Bulldogs defeated Illinois on Feb. 9 (3-2), and lost to Purdue on Feb. 15 (8-5) and Nebraska on Feb. 16 (2-0).
? Laura Brewer and Amy Pierce pace the Drake offense with .356 batting averages. Hayley Nybo leads the team with 25 RBIs.
? Rebekah Schmidt is 9-6 inside the circle, and Jordan Gronewold is 10-6.
? Drake is coached by Rich Calvert. Calvert served as an assistant coach at Iowa from 1997-2002, helping the Hawkeyes to five NCAA Tournament appearances and two Women’s College World Series. Iowa was 262-104-1 in his six seasons on staff and captured Big Ten Conference titles in 1997 and 2000.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Grove triplets — Brittanee, Malloree and Steviee — have been reunited as teammates on the Iowa softball team. Brittanee and Malloree played their freshman seasons at Creighton University, while Steviee was a catcher at Indiana State.
DOWLING MAKES THE MOVE
At the plate, junior Johnnie Dowling made the transition from a right-handed hitter to a left-handed slapper following the 2011 season to utilize her speed. The Des Moines, Iowa, native hit .216 with five home runs as a sophomore. Dowling hit a career-best .308 last season from the left side of the plate on her way to third team All-Big Ten honors. She also had career highs in runs (35), hits (53) and walks (9). Dowling had 15 multi-hit games and led the team with a .381 average during conference play.
11 BIG TEN NETWORK APPEARANCES
Iowa will make 11 appearances on the Big Ten Network or BTN.com during the 2013 season. The Hawkeyes will make their debut during their three-game set against Nebraska at Pearl Field (April 5-7). All three contests will be shown on BTN.com. Iowa’s home doubleheader against No. 8 Missouri on April 17 is slated for BTN.com. Two contests during Iowa’s three-game set at Michigan (April 19-21) will be shown live. The opener on April 19 can be seen on BTN.com. The Hawkeyes will make their BTN debut on April 21 in the series finale. Both games of Iowa’s doubleheader against Illinois at Pearl Field on April 23 will be shown live on BTN. The Hawkeyes will host Penn State on April 18 at 1 p.m., in a contest slated for BTN.com. Iowa’s annual Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup with Iowa State on May 1 can also be seen on BTN.com. The contest is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. at Pearl Field.
The Big Ten Network will also choose five “wildcard” games during the course of the regular season that will be televised live. The network will also air the semifinal games and championship game of the Big Ten Tournament in Lincoln, Neb. (May 11-12). Highlights and coverage of Big Ten softball will be featured on the Diamond Report, which airs Sunday nights during the season beginning in April. Hosts Rick Pizzo, Mike Hall and various analysts will discuss Big Ten matchups and breakout performances from the weekend games.
ON THE HORIZON
Iowa returns home to host No. 19 Nebraska, April 5-7, in a three-game set at Pearl Field. First pitch of game one is set for 6:30 p.m. on Friday.