IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Denali Loecker has been named Big Ten Softball Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
Loecker hit .308 with six RBIs, a double, and a home run in four games last weekend at No. 24 Minnesota. She hit .500 on the weekend with runners in scoring position. She slugged .615 and had an on-base percentage of .400. She also tallied 18 putouts at first base.
💥THREE RUN DINGER💥@denaliloecker #Hawkeyes #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/9abMzMcHsF
— Iowa Softball (@iowasoftball) April 24, 2021
The Ogden, Iowa, native increased her overall batting average to .341, ranking first on the team and 11th in the Big Ten Conference. She leads the team in batting average, doubles, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
“It is great to see Denali, a local Iowa girl, recognized by the conference after an incredible weekend,” said head coach Renee Gillispie. “She continues to put in work every day and you can see it in her performance at the plate. She sets a great example for the team and continues to look more and more comfortable at the plate against Big Ten pitching. We are now seeing the results.”
The conference accolade is the first of her career and first for Iowa this season. The last Hawkeye to win Big Ten Freshman of the Week was Kalena Burns on March 9, 2020.
The Hawkeyes travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, to take on Rutgers in a four-game series April 30-May 2.
