Notes: vs. UCLA

THIS WEEK

The University of Iowa softball team hosts No. 5/6 UCLA for its Big Ten home opener. The Hawkeyes will play the Bruins in a two game series. The game will be Saturday, March 22, at 2pm CT, and game two will be Sunday, March 23, at 11am CT.

• Tickets are available for $7.42 for adults and youth 18 and under are free.

WATCH / FOLLOW LIVE

Iowa’s games against UCLA on will be streamed on Big Ten+. Fans can follow along for live updates via X, @IowaSoftball.

LAST TIME OUT

The Hawkeyes opened their 2025 conference slate in a two-game series against Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana this past weekend. The Hawkeyes defeated the Hooisers in both games, sweeping the Hooisers. Game one's final score was 7-6, and game twos was 6-5.

Sophomore infielder Jena Young was a standout for Iowa this past weekend. Young batted .714 on the conference opening weekend, including six runs on five hits, one home run, and three RBIs.

The Hawkeyes started with junior Jalen Adams (13-2) on the mound in game one and went to freshman Talia Tretton in game two. Both pitchers registered a win and a save on the weekend, along with seven innings pitched. Tretton fanned six, and Adams fanned four.

Three Hawkeyes notched a home run over the weekend in Bloomington. Young notched her first of the season, the fifth of her career. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry tallied her fifth of the season, sixth of her career. Freshman Allyssa Ramos tallied her second of the season and career.

With their 18th win in game two at Indiana, Iowa matched its total wins from the 2024 season. The last time Iowa won two games in a row at Indiana was the 2011-2012 season on April 28, 5-0, and April 29, 10-0 (5 innings).

The last time Iowa swept Indiana in Bloomington was in a two game series in the 2008-2009 season on April 25, 12-0 (5 innings), and April 26, 12-1 (5 innings).

SCOUTING THE BRUINS

Head Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez enters her 19th season at the helm of the Bruins. UCLA is currently on a nine-game winning streak, opening conference play 3-0 at home against Purdue (6-0, 2-1, and 7-5). Senior utility Savannah Pola leads the squad in batting average (.455) and hits (46). Pola has started every game for the Bruins this season. Junior infielder Jordan Woolery ranks third on the squad in batting average (.422) but leads the Big Ten in multiple categories, including RBIs (48), and total bases (92). Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kaitlyn Terry leads the Bruins in innings pitched (77.2), ERA (1.44), and strikeouts (92).

IN THE B1G LEAGUES

• Redshirt junior catcher Desiree Rivera leads the conference and is ranked 10th nationally in runners caught stealing with 10 runners caught.
• Ace junior RHP Jalen Adams is third in the Big Ten in two categories; ERA (1.44, 30th nationally), games started (13, 32nd nationally), and is second in innings pitched (87.1, 20th nationally), shutouts (3, 14th nationally), and victories (13, fourth 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 .351 and home runs with five.
• Senior Hannah Lindsay leads the squad in RBIs with 21.
• Outfielders Bennett and Roman lead fielding percentage with a perfect score, Roman has contributed 28 putouts and Bennett has contributed 37 on the year.
• Ace pitcher Jalen Adams leads the mound with 87.1 innings pitched and 65 strikeouts.

STARTING STREAKS

Six Hawkeyes have perfect attendance - starting all 26 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.

HANNAH'S TEXAS TEAR

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 fifth on the team hitting .296 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 South Dakota State next Tuesday for a midweek doubleheader. Game one is set for a 2:30pm CT first pitch and game two will begin at 4:30pm CT. The Hawkeyes will then travel to Madison, Wisconsin to take on the Badgers in a three-game series. Game one is Friday, March 28 at 4pm CT, game two is Saturday, March 29 at noon, and the Sunday, March 30 finale is at noon.