IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa freshman Denali Loecker has been named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. This marks the third straight week that a Hawkeye has been named Freshman of the Week and is the fourth weekly award for the Hawkeyes in those three weeks.
The Ogden, Iowa, native hit .455 with two doubles and three RBIs. She slugged .636 and had an on base percentage of .538. Loecker added two runs for the Hawkeyes and had a perfect fielding percentage with 13 putouts.
Loecker leads the team in overall batting average, hitting .339, ninth best in the Big Ten Conference. She also leads the team in doubles, home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage.
“Denali has really been working hard and it is great to see her earn this honor,” said head coach Renee Gillispie. “She has put together some strong performances as of late and as a local Iowa girl it is great to see her representing the state and this program.”
Loecker shares the award with Jaeda McFarland from Maryland. The conference accolade is the second of her career and fourth for Iowa this season. The last Hawkeye to win Big Ten Freshman of the Week was Brylee Klosterman on May 4.
Loecker is only the second Hawkeye to be named Freshman of the Week twice, Megan Blank did so in 2012.
The Hawkeyes host Illinois in a four-game series to close the regular season beginning Friday through Sunday.
