The softball Hawkeyes are about to get a grand tour of the state of Oklahoma as they get set for 12 games in 11 days.

While it’s not the most glorious road trip for Iowa this season (they Hawks have been to California once and Florida twice), it will be a long stretch of games for a softball team still trying to find its legs.

A boon for sure, but it’s also a change from the weekend tournaments that the Hawkeyes have become accustomed too over the last several weeks.

“I’m excited; I think that it’s a good thing to go into, especially since we’re approaching conference play,” outfielder Whitney Repole said. “We’re physically prepared to take it on, so I think it’s going to be a good week.”

The end of the 12-game stretch also coincides with the beginning of Iowa’s Big Ten slate.

Even better for the Hawkeyes, those games are at home, providing a nice end of the stretch for head coach Marla Looper’s team.

“We just have to get out there and leave it on the field every day,” Looper said. ‘We can’t leave any reserves in the tank, because we can refuel overnight and get back at it the next day.

“I think it’s a fun time of the year when we’re playing more often.”

Gyerman continues to shine

Sammi Gyerman has continued to be a major positive for Iowa this season; the redshirt sophomore hit .352 over the past weekend, despite the team’s struggles overall.

She is one of three players to start all 22 games this season and her .294 season batting average only trails three-time All-Big Ten selection Megan Blank’s .371.

“I’ve just been focused on driving in my runs and doing my role,” Gyerman said. “Of course, everyone likes to look at that stats, but it’s not about that — you can have a really good at-bat and then end up striking out or an awful at-bat and getting a hit.

“It depends on how you look at it, and we don’t really like to look at stats all that much on the team.”

Iowa hosts ‘Meet the Hawks’ night

For the 11th year in a row, the Hawkeyes hosted their annual “Meet the Hawks Night” on Wednesday evening.

It’s an event that seems to mean a lot to Looper, and she hopes that with its being so close to Iowa’s first home game, some of that support will spill over into the stands.

“It’s great to be able to mingle with our fans, because we don’t always get to after a game,” Looper said. “This is something where we get a block of time to spend with them and share ourselves with them, because they share their time with us.”

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