After dropping four of its five games last weekend, the Iowa softball team hopes to get back to its winning ways today at the Matador Classic in Northridge, Calif.

The Hawkeyes (7-7) will open the weekend with a double-header against Cal State-Northridge today at 3 and 5 p.m., followed by Saturday contests against St. Mary’s at 11 a.m. and Cal State-Bakersfield at 1 p.m.

Iowa has never faced Cal State-Northridge or Cal State-Bakersfield.

Seniors Lindsey Digmann, Katie Brown, and junior Chelsey Carmody hope to continue their strong play in the batter’s box.

Digmann leads the Hawkeyes with 20 hits this season, second-best in the Big Ten, and Carmody’s .442 batting average is fourth-best in the conference.

Brown’s strength at the plate has been in scoring situations. The senior is hitting .500 in with runners in scoring position.

Scoring runs early could be key for the Hawkeyes if the team is to have a successful weekend. Iowa has six wins when it scores first this season.

— by Mitch Smith