April 16, 2014
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PLAY BALL
The University of Iowa softball team hosts No. 13/15 Missouri in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 16. Game one is set to begin at 3 p.m. (CT) at Pearl Field in Iowa City. Both games will be shown live on the Big Ten Digital Network.
FOLLOW ALONG
Live audio will be available for all games at hawkeyesports.com. Play-by-play announcer Rob Brooks will call the action. Fans can also follow along through live stats (Gametracker). The “GT” link can be accessed under the “Calendar” tab on the front page of hawkeyesports.com or on the softball schedule page. For in-game updates, follow @IowaSoftball on Twitter and “like” Iowa Hawkeyes Softball on Facebook.
SERIES HISTORY
? Missouri leads Iowa, 6-13, in the all-time series.
? This is the second time Iowa and Missouri have played one another in the 2014 season. The teams last competed at the Getterman Classic hosted by Baylor on Feb. 14. The Tigers won the contest, 2-1, after eight innings of play.
? Missouri has won the last six games played against Iowa.
? Iowa’s last win over Missouri occurred on March 29, 2000. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers, 7-1.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
No. 13/15 Missouri, a member of the SEC, brings an overall record of 32-10 into the midweek doubleheader. Five starters own an average above .300 including Taylor Gadbois (.440), Emily Crane (.411), Angela Randazzo (.355), Sami Fagan (.333) and Mackenzie Sykes (.315). Pitcher Tori Finucane leads the Tigers in ERA (1.86), win-loss record (14-5), innings pitched (127.2), shutouts (4), complete games (12) and strikeouts (115). Casey Stangel follows with a 3.01 ERA, 13-5 win-loss record and 116.1 innings pitched.
A LOOK BACK
Iowa used an Erin Erickson solo home run in the top of the first inning to establish an early advantage over then No. 14/18-ranked Missouri at the Getterman Classic on Feb. 14, 2014. The Hawkeye lead held until the Tigers used a walk, sacrifice bunt and a single to plate a run in the bottom of the sixth, evening the score, 1-1. Neither team was able to break the tie in seven innings, putting the international tie rule in effect. Each team started the eighth inning with a runner at second base, but Missouri was the only team able to push a run across. The Tigers used a sacrifice bunt to move the runner from second to third and a walk off single through the right side ended the contest, 2-1. Kayla Massey took the loss for Iowa in the circle, but struck out a season-high seven batters and held the Tigers to just four hits in her 7.2 innings pitched.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
? As a team, Iowa ranks sixth nationally in triples per game (0.21) and ninth in double plays per game (0.52).
? Megan Blank is 47th in triples (3) and 64th in triples per game (0.09).
? Whitney Repole is 136th in hit by pitch per game (0.18).
CONSIDERING CONFERENCE ONLY
? Iowa is currently in ninth place in the Big Ten standings with a 5-9 record in conference action.
? Megan Blank leads the conference in triples (2). She is also second in assists (30) and double plays (5), fifth in hits (18), ninth in batting average (.439), total bases (28) and on-base percentage (.521).
? Kayla Massey leads the conference in looking strikeouts (16) and innings pitched (57.2). She is also second in games started (8), third in home runs (4), fifth in earned run average (2.31) and strikeouts (41), and seventh in opposing batting average (.240).
? Claire Fritsch is third in total plate appearances (52), fourth in at bats (45) and assists (29), ninth in sacrifice bunts (3) and 11th in chances (74).
? Brianna Luna leads the league in plate appearances (54). She is also second in at bats (46).
? Erin Erickson is ninth in at bats (42).
? Shayla Starkenburg ranks seventh in looking strikeouts (8) and 10th in games started (6).
? Micaela Whitney is eighth in games finished (3).
? Kaitlyn Mullarkey is tied for the league lead with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. She is also 10th in putouts (69) and 12th in chances (72).
? Michelle Zoeller leads the conference in assists (31).
? Holly Hoffman is ninth in put outs (70) and chances (75).
PROMOTIONS
The first 200 fans through the gates at Pearl Field for Wednesday’s doubleheader will receive free Iowa softball koozies. It is also Student Day at the Park. A Hawks Nest Tailgate will take place before each game, which will include free pizza, drinks and lawn games for UI students.
PURCHASE UI SOFTBALL SEASON TICKETS
University of Iowa softball season tickets are still on sale. Reserve season tickets are available for $20 and general admission season tickets are available for $15. All season ticket holders will receive a free Iowa softball seat cushion. Individuals 18 years and younger receive free general admission seating. Season tickets can be purchased online at hawkeyesports.com, by phone at 1-800-IA-HAWKS or in person at the UI Athletics Ticket Office in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Fans can also purchase single game tickets for $5 on game day at Pearl Field in Iowa City.
ON DECK
UI softball continues its home stand with a Big Ten weekend series against Michigan State, April 18-20. The series begins with a 6 p.m. (CT) contest on Friday, continues with a 2 p.m. game on Saturday and concludes with a single game at 1 p.m. on Sunday.