THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa softball team travels to Leesburg, Florida to open the season with a six-game series Friday through Sunday. The Hawkeyes start off with two games against Ohio State on Friday. They face No. 17 Michigan twice on Saturday, and Michigan State twice on Sunday.
CONNECT WITH THE HAWKEYES
For all of the latest news and information on Iowa softball, visit hawkeyesports.com. Fans can also follow the program at Facebook.com/iowahawkeyessoftball and @iowasoftball on Twitter and Instagram.
BUILDING MOMENTUM
- Iowa finished the 2020 season 17-5 overall, one of the best starts in program history.
- The 1991 team was 53-11 and the 2000 team finished 46-15. With two more wins, Iowa would have tied its win total from 2019.
- Iowa was on pace for its highest win total since at least 2013 (30).
- The 2020 team joined the 1991 (18-2) and 2000 (13-1) teams as the best starts in program history.
IOWA PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH IN BIG TEN IN 2021
- Iowa was picked to finish fifth in the conference by D1 Softball.
- The Hawkeyes were also named as a projected regional team.
B1G LEADER
- Sophomore Nia Carter returns after leading the Big Ten in batting average throughout the nonconference season last year. Carter batted .509 with nine RBIs, two doubles, and one triple.
- The Rancho Cucamonga, California, native had 28 hits on the season to four strikeouts. She was the only player in the Big Ten’s top-20 with less than five strikeouts.
- Carter ranked fifth in the Big Ten in total hits (28).
- Nationally, Carter was 11th in batting average.
(FUN)-DAMENTALS
- Iowa finished first in the Big Ten in fielding.
- Iowa’s .976 fielding percentage paced the conference, and its 15 errors was fewest.
- The Hawkeyes had 450 putouts with 152 assists and 15 errors.
- On the basepaths, Iowa caught five runners stealing of 17 attempted steals.
- Nationally, Iowa was 29th in the nation in fielding percentage.
CARTER NAMED TO JWOS ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
- University of Iowa freshman Nia Carter was named to the 2020 Justin’s World of Softball (JWOS) All-Freshman team.
- Carter was the first Hawkeye to win an All-Freshman award since Stacy May won Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2003.
DYNAMIC DUO
- Senior Lauren Shaw and senior Allison Doocy were a potent one-two punch for the Hawkeyes on the mound.
- The duo combined for 163 strikeouts in 141.3 innings.
- Doocy was second in the Big Ten with a 1.54 ERA and Shaw was fourth with a 1.71 ERA.
- Shaw was one of four pitchers in the conference with nine wins.
- Doocy was fourth in the Big Ten with 102 strikeouts, she struck out 41-percent of the batters she faced. (102-249).
- Doocy ranked 17th in the nation with 10.4 strikeouts per seven innings.
- As a team, Iowa ranked second in the Big Ten with a 2.15 combined ERA.
- Iowa’s pitching staff ranked 15th in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.85).
MOVING UP THE IOWA LEADERBOARD
- Senior Allison Doocy ranks 12th in career pitching appearances (107).
- She ranks ninth in career complete games (61).
- She ranks sixth in career strikeouts (587).
B1G AWARDS LAST SEASON
- Lauren Shaw was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week on Febuary 17.
- Kalena Burns was named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week following her performance at The Spring Games, March 6-7.
- Nia Carter was named the Big Ten’s Freshman of the Week and Player of the Week on March 24.
ON THE FIELD AND IN THE CLASSROOM
- 11 Hawkeyes were named Academic All-Big Ten.
- Aralee Bogar, Kate Claypool, Elizabeth DeShields, Allison Doocy, Ashley Hamilton, Sarah Lehman, Hayvn Monteer, Syden Owens, Alex Rath, Lauren Shaw and Lea Thompson.
- Four Hawkeyes were named Big Ten Conference Distinguished Scholars.
Aralee Bogar, Allison Doocy, Ashley Hamilton and Lauren Shaw.