The Iowa softball team opened its Big Ten schedule with a pair of wins over the weekend, sweeping a two-game series with Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.

Iowa (16-12-1, 2-0) defeated the Spartans on March 27, 3-1, then followed that performance with a comeback victory on Sunday, 7-6.

The victories extended the Hawkeyes winning streak to four games.

Junior Jenny Schuelke blasted her third and fourth home runs of the season, and sophomore Liz Watkins went 6-for-7 at the plate and hit her third dinger of the year.

Senior Amanda Zust picked up the victory for the Hawkeyes in the contest on March 27, striking out five and allowing no runs en route to her 12th complete game of the season.

In Sunday’s game, freshman Chelsea Lyon got the win, tossing 51⁄3 innings in a two-hit, no run relief appearance.

The Hawkeyes will be back in action on Thursday when the team travels to Ames to face Iowa State in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series.

— by Mitch Smith