Notes: at Indiana

LAST TIME OUT

The Hawkeyes opened their 2025 home slate in a doubleheader against St. Thomas this past Wednesday. Iowa defeated the Tommies in both games, 3-1, in the first game, and 1-0 (8 innings), in game two.

Junior Jalen Adams (12-2) got the start in the home opener for Iowa. In her 12th start of the season, she threw her ninth complete game. Adams held the Tommies to one run on five hits and struck out 10, matching her career high. Seven different Hawkeyes recorded a hit, with Jena Young, Allyssa Ramos and Talia Tretton picking up RBIs.

The Hawkeyes went to freshman Talia Tretton (4-3) in game two. She threw her fourth complete game of the season picking up nine strikeouts. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry led the way going 2-for-2 and senior Tatianna Roman picked up the only RBI of the game.

The past weekend Iowa traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to compete in the Alabama Spring Break Showdown, where the Hawkeyes competed against Louisiana Lafayette and #21/22 Alabama twice a piece on Friday and Saturday.

Iowa left the weekend 1-3. Iowa won their first game of the weekend against Louisiana Lafayette, 4-2. The Hawkeyes then fell three in a row after losing to Alabama Friday night, 12-3 (6 innings), followed by dropping both games on Saturday, falling to Louisiana Lafayette 3-0, and Alabama, 5-1.

Four Hawkeyes posted over a .300 batting average on the tournament,   four Hawkeyes had at least four hits and six Hawkeyes tallied at least one RBI.

SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS

Head Coach Shonda Stanton enters her eighth season at the helm of the Hoosiers. Iowa post two midweek games; defeating Butler this past Tuesday, 13-0 (5 innings), and Southern Indiana on Wednesday, 6-5. Including the past two midweek wins, the Hoosiers are on a seven game win streak. Until their most recent match up, Indiana was on a six game run rule streak. Senior outfielder Taylor Minnick has started and played in every game for Indiana this season. Minnick leads the team in batting average (.515), RBIs (34), and hits (34). Senior pitcher/utility Brianna Copeland has the most innings on the mound for the Hoosiers (42.1), as well as the most strikeouts (51).

MEASURING UP

- Redshirt junior catcher Desiree Rivera leads the conference and is ninth nationally in catching runners stealing with nine runners caught.

- Ace junior RHP Jalen Adams is fourth in the Big Ten in four categories; ERA (1.04, 13th nationally), games started (12, 23rd nationally), innings pitched (80.2, 15th nationally), shutouts (3, 12th nationally), and victories (11, sixth nationally).

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

The Hawkeyes have a team voted group of captains, called the Leadership Council. The select for the 2025 season include senior Tatianna Roman, Junior Jalen Adams, senior Rylie Moss, and redshirt junior Desiree Rivera.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry leads the Hawkeyes in batting average with .338 and home runs with four.
• Senior Hannah Lindsay leads the squad in RBIs with 21.
• Outfielders Bennett and Roman lead fielding percentage with a perfect score, Roman has contributed 25 putouts and Bennett has contributed 35 on the year.
• Ace pitcher Jalen Adams leads the mound with 80.2 innings pitched and 61 strikeouts.

STARTING STREAKS

Six Hawkeyes have perfect attendance - starting all 24 games so far this season; Devin Simon in right field, Jena Young at second or shortstop, Tatianna Roman in left field, Tory Bennett in center field, Allyssa Ramos at third base or first, and Desiree Rivera at catcher.

HOME RUN HANNAH

After posting 16 RBIs and three home runs across four games at the Lion Invitational, senior catcher Hannah Lindsay was named Big Ten Co-Player of the week on February 17. The Surprise, Arizona, native hit .667 in four-games at the Lion Invitational at East Texas A&M. She currently ranks second on the team hitting .317 and leads the team with 21 RBIs.

PLAYING THE BEST

The Hawkeyes are set to face eight different teams that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament: Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana Lafayette, Missouri, Penn State, Tennessee and UCLA.

BELIEVE THE (PRESEASON) HYPE

Adams, Berry and Young were named Big Ten Players to Watch for 2025.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN

Eight Hawkeyes hail from Iowa and California, three from Arizona and one each from Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Nevada and Wisconsin. Iowa has one international athlete from Australia. The roster was comprised of eight freshmen, six sophomores, seven juniors, and five seniors. There are 18 returning letterwinners and eight newcomers.

NEW ERA OF THE B1G

The Big Ten welcomed four new schools to the conference, three of which will compete in softball for the 2025 season. Big Ten softball added NCAA tournament qualifiers Oregon, UCLA and Washington for softball. The Hawkeyes are set to host UCLA in their Big Ten home opener on March 22 in Iowa City.

UP NEXT

Iowa will host UCLA next weekend for a two game series at Bob Pearl Field. The Hawkeyes will play the Bruins on Saturday, March 22nd at 2pm CT for their Big Ten home opener. The second game against UCLA will be Sunday, March 23 at 11am CT.