The Iowa softball team is scheduled to take on Iowa State at 6 p.m. today.
Three days after winning its first Big Ten series of the season, the Iowa softball team will play host to Iowa State in the latest installment of the Cy-Hawk Series.
Last year’s game between the instate rivals was shortened by rain to a 6-6 tie. However, with mild weather in the forecast, head coach Marla Looper is hoping for the best.
“I hope we can get a good crowd there,” she said. “Hopefully, the weather will hold out, and we’ll have a great Wednesday night at Pearl Field, and take on those Cyclones, and help out in the Cy-Hawk Series.”
Iowa State (20-17, 1-5) comes into Iowa City struggling, having lost eight of its last 10 games. Iowa (14-31, 5-9) hasn’t been a whole lot better, winning just four of its last 10.
Star outfielder Brittany Gomez sparks the Cyclones. She leads the team in batting average with a hefty .446 batting average. Utility player Aly Cappaert has also had a nice year at the plate, batting .354 with a .596 slugging percentage.
Iowa State has five batters hitting over .300, and they’ll likely be matched up against Iowa’s Shayla Starkenburg. The sophomore is only days removed from one of her best outings of the season — 11 strikeouts and just 2 earned runs in a series-winning 3-2 victory over Wisconsin.
Star Iowa shortstop Megan Blank and the rest of the Iowa offense will likely be up against one of three pitchers — Stacy Roggentien (3.72 ERA), Katie Johnson (4.69 ERA), or Brianna Wellbacher (6.24 ERA).
Roggesntien, 7-3 on the season, has started just three games, but has appeared in 26. Johnson has done most of the work in the circle for Iowa State, leading the team in innings pitched with 97.
The Hawkeyes enter the game leading the all-time series 32-28-2, and the teams have split the last five. Iowa won in 2013 and 2011, and the Cyclones were victorious in 2012 and 2010.
There are heavy Cy-Hawk implications in today’s game. Currently, Iowa State leads the competition 13-11 and an Iowa win would tie the series.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Pearl Field with the game’s theme being a Blackout night.
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