Notes: vs. No. 20/21 Nebraska

LAST TIME OUT

The Hawkeyes fell in their first three-game Big Ten series at Wisconsin, 3-0. Iowa played in a doubleheader on Friday and the finale on Saturday. The Hawkeyes fell in game one, 8-7, in game two, 4-2, and in game three, 7-5.

Junior Jalen Adams (then 15-3) got the start in game one for Iowa. In her 16th start of the season, Adams threw six and a 1/3 inning, fanning four, before freshman Talia Tretton came in to as relief. Seven different Hawkeyes recorded a hit, including three home runs; one from junior Tory Bennett, one from Soo-Jin Berry, and one from redshirt junior Desiree Rivera.

The Hawkeyes went to freshman Talia Tretton (6-5) in game two. Tretton threw three and 2/3 of an inning and fanned two before Adams came in to throw two and 1/3 innings of relief. Four different Hawkeyes recorded at least one hit, with sophomore Jena Young leading the way, going 2-for-3.

Junior Jalen Adams (15-4) got the start in the circle for Iowa in game three. In her 17th start of the season, Adams threw three and a 1/3 inning, fanning two, before freshman Talia Tretton came entered in relief. Five different Hawkeyes recorded at least one hit, with three Hawkeyes recording two. Sophomore Jena Young, redshirt junior Desiree Rivera, and senior Tatianna Roman led the way each going 2-for-3 at the plate.

SCOUTING THE CORNHUSKERS

Head Coach Rhonda Revelle is in her 33rd season at the helm of the Cornhuskers. Nebraska is currently 6-3 in conference play, coming off a series win at home against Purdue. Nebraska took the first two games before dropping the finale. The Cornhuskers other Big Ten losses came to then recieving votes Ohio State, 12-6, and 13-12, in Columbus. Their six Big Ten wins have been from one game against Ohio State, three games against Minnesota, and two games against Purdue. Junior RHP and preseason all-American Jordy Bahl has done it all for the Huskers this season. Bahl has started in 32 and played in 34 of Nebraska's 35 games so far. Bahl leads in batting average with .438 (7th in the B1G), and hits with 46. Bahl also leads in the circle with a 1.43 ERA (3rd in B1G) in 107.1 innings pitched with 143 strikeouts (2nd in B1G).

Bahl faced the Hawkeyes in 2022 when she was a freshman at Oklahoma. Bahl threw a five-inning no hitter against Iowa in Oklahoma City.

IN THE B1G LEAGUES

• Redshirt junior catcher Desiree Rivera leads the conference and is ranked 18th nationally in runners caught stealing with 10 runners caught.
• Ace junior RHP Jalen Adams is second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in victories (15). Adams also is second in the conference in innings pitched (114.1), and 12th nationally.
• Sophomore Jena Young is tied for third in the conference with four triples.

SOOJ THE STAR

Sophomore infielder Soo-Jin Berry was named one of Softball America's Stars of the Week of 3/24 after her standout game in Iowa's upset against then No. 5/6 UCLA. Berry hit two home runs in the game, the first muti-home run game of her career.

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 infielder Jena Young leads the Hawkeyes in batting average hitting .385.
• Sophomore infielder Soo-Jin Berry leads the squad with home runs (8) in RBIs (23).
• Outfielders Bennett and Roman each have a perfect fielding percentage. Roman has contributed 36 putouts and Bennett has contributed 46 on the year.
• Jalen Adams leads the pitchers with 114.1 innings pitched and 84 strikeouts.

STARTING STREAKS

Four Hawkeyes have started all 33 games so far this season; Devin Simon in right field, Jena Young in the middle infield, Tory Bennett in center field, 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.

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 Illinois State next Tuesday for a midweek match up at 4pm CT. The Hawkeyes then head to College Park to take on Maryland in a three-game series. Game one is Friday, April 11 at 5pm CT, game two is Saturday, April 12 at 1pm CT, and the Sunday, April 13 series finale is at 11am CT.