For the second straight time, the Iowa softball team will have a series pushed back due to weather.

Originally Iowa was supposed to start a three-game series with No. 4 Michigan on Friday and then play two more games on Saturday and Sunday. Now, they’ll have a doubleheader on Saturday and another game on Sunday.

Weather also affected a doubleheader with Nebraska, which was bumped back earlier this week, from Tuesday to Wednesday.

“I think we’re coming in a little more rested now,” Iowa head coach Marla Looper said after Wednesday’s doubleheader. “Moving the game probably helped us a little bit and should help us going forward to Michigan this weekend.”

Even with the games being moved back once again, the Hawkeyes are still in for a tough task against the Wolverines.

Michigan has been near the top of the polls throughout this season and for good reason — its 1.51 ERA is fifth best in the nation — while also boasting an offense that puts up a little over eight runs a game.

By comparison, Iowa’s ERA of 7.32 last in the Big Ten and while its’ .262 batting average is also near the bottom of the conference.

That’s not a good matchup for the Hawkeyes, considering that Michigan put up 42 runs on Michigan State in their series last weekend while only giving up two in return.

Despite the tough matchup and two tough losses to Nebraska on Wednesday, shortstop Megan Blank still feels like she is seeing good things out of her team.

“We’ve had a lot of really good practices in a row,” Blank said. “I really like what I’ve been seeing, everyone’s attacking the ball and that’s what we need to be doing.”

– Jordan Hansen