The Iowa softball team will compete against Indiana in its Big Ten opener.
By Mario Williams
The start to the Iowa softball team’s season probably hasn’t been what the players had hoped (8-16). With the start of the Big Ten season today, the team will try to turn things around.
Iowa will head to Bloomington, Indiana, to play the Hoosiers in a three-game series.
While Iowa has lost 16 games, Indiana has won 16 and lost 10. Three Hoosiers are hitting above .300 this season: sophomore Rebecca Bitz (.367), junior Erin Lehman (.308), and sophomore Aimilia McDonough (.306). Freshmen Tara Trainer and Josie Wood each have 8 wins in the circle.
While the Hawkeyes have only been able to capture 8 wins, there has been some success. Five Hawkeyes — freshman Mallory Kilian, sophomore Katy Taylor, senior Haley Hansel, junior Sammi Gyerman, and junior Kaitlyn Mullarkey — are hitting above .300. Kilian leads the team at .359.
Iowa posted a team ERA of 1.21 in its five-game tournament at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, and the Hawks also had success on the bases. Iowa stole 18 bags last season, and it has now swiped 33 bases in 24 contests. The Hawks are 33-of-38 stealing this season; Mullarkey leads with 8.
Aside from stealing more bases this season, Iowa has also improved in runs scored, triples, home runs, and walks.
In the Big Ten, four teams appear (or nearly appear) in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Softball top-25 poll. Michigan is No 2 , and Minnesota sits at No. 22, while Ohio State and Nebraska have received votes.
After a very tough slate in the Big Ten last year, Iowa’s schedule lightens up a bit this season; the Hawks they skip playing Michigan and Ohio State. A date with Minnesota at the end of the season will be a good end-of-season test and will be a good gauge to see where the team is.
The Hawkeyes will play four Big Ten series in Iowa City this season, with the first taking place April 1-3 against Purdue. Iowa also will host Wisconsin, Penn State, and Minnesota.
Several nonconference games also show up on the slate; the Hawks will host Drake, Northern Iowa, and Missouri and play at Iowa State.
First pitch against Indiana is slated for 5 p.m. today. Saturday’s game will start at noon, and the March 27 contest will begin at 11 a.m.