Notes: at Michigan State

THIS WEEK

The University of Iowa softball team travels to East Lansing, Michigan for a three game series at Michigan State, April 25-27. First pitch at Secchia Stadium on Friday is set for 2 pm CT, Saturday for 12 pm CT, and Sunday at 12 pm CT.

WATCH/FOLLOW

Iowa’s games against Michigan State will be on B1G+ ($). Fans can follow along for live updates via X, @IowaSoftball.

LAST TIME OUT

The University of Iowa softball team shutout Drake on Wednesday evening at Bob Pearl Field, 4-0. Freshman Talia Tretton (9-8) got the start in the circle and threw five and 2/3 innings, fanning five. Junior Jalen Adams picked up the save throwing the final one and 1/3, fanning two Bulldogs. Sophomore Soo-Jin Berry went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and redshirt junior Desiree Rivera went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. The Hawkeyes swept Penn State in a three-game series over the weekend. Iowa won 2-1 in game one, 10-2 in six innings in game two and 3-1 in the finale. Adams picked up two wins in the series allowing two runs over 14.0 innings. She held the Nittany Lions to a .133 BA against. Berry led the way hitting .371 while Jena Young picked up three hits with four RBIs in the series.

SCOUTING THE SPARTANS

Head Coach Sharonda McDonald-Kelley enters her third season at the helm of the Spartans. Michigan State faces Iowa coming off a 2-1 series loss against RV Washington. Junior third baseman Kaelin Cash leads the squad in hitting with .361, and is tied for first in RBIs with 24. Cash has played and started in all 39 games for the Spartans this season. Freshman RHP Jacey Shuler leads the Spartans in the circle with 86.2 innings pitched. Shuler has a 7-10 record, with 19 starts and a 4.04 ERA. Michigan State leads in the Big Ten in hits allowed per seven innings with 9.53. Sophomore outfielder Kendall Smiley is tied with Iowa's Jena Young and two other players for leading the conference in triples with five.

2025 QUICK FACTS

• The Hawkeyes have won seven straight Big Ten games, the longest streak since 2004 when Iowa won eight in a row.

• 20 wins for Adams is the most for an Iowa pitcher since 2009 (Brittany Weil, 26).

• One more conference win will put Iowa at 11 on the year, which is the most conference wins for the Hawkeyes since 2012 when they won 16 (excluding the 2021 COVID bubble season).

IN THE B1G LEAGUES

• Redshirt junior catcher Desiree Rivera leads the conference and is ranked 28th nationally in runners caught stealing with 12 runners caught.

• Junior centerfielder Tory Bennett leads the Big Ten in sacrifice bunts per game (.27) and is ranked 13th nationally.

• Ace junior RHP Jalen Adams is second in the Big Ten and third nationally in victories (20). Adams is first in the conference in innings pitched (159.1), and seventh nationally.

• Sophomore middle infielder Jena Young leads the Big Ten in triples (5) and ranks 24th nationally.

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 Soo-Jin Berry leads the squad in hitting (.367) with home runs (9) in RBIs (29).

• Outfielders Bennett and Roman each have a perfect fielding percentage. Roman has contributed 40 putouts and Bennett has contributed 70 on the year.

• Jalen Adams leads the pitchers with 159.1 innings pitched and 111 strikeouts.

STARTING STREAKS

Two Hawkeyes have started all 45 games so far this season; Jena Young in the middle infield, and Tory Bennett in center field.

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.

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 hosted UCLA in their Big Ten home opener on March 22 in Iowa City.

UP NEXT

Iowa returns home for a five-game home stand to close out the regular season. The Hawkeyes host Iowa State and Northern Iowa on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Then Iowa welcomes Rutgers for a three-game series to close out the season. All five games will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.