Pearl Field’s gates will swing open for the first time this season on March 21 as the Hawkeye softball team hosts South Dakota in the home-opener. The double-header starts at 2 p.m., with the second game to follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

Iowa softball had a busy week during spring break, playing 10 games. The team came away with seven wins, but consistency was a challenge.

“We made some great stride forward as a team,” head coach Marla Looper said. “We had some highs, we had some lows. Our challenge is how do we become consistent toward the high? We had a four-game winning streak, and we dropped one. We won some, and we lost one.”

The team is making strides compared with recent years. The 12-10 record Looper’s squad currently hold is the best start the team has had since 2013.

“I think we really banded together as a team and used the momentum from each game to go forward,” freshman shortstop Aralee Bogar said. “It was a long week of games, but we did a good job. We’re going to use the momentum to go forward.”

Closing out double-headers has also been a challenge for the Hawkeyes. Over that 10-game stretch, the team upset No. 13 Arizona State, 3-1. The following game, they were blown out, 9-0. South Dakota will provide another opportunity for the team to close out two games.

Typically, pitching has been strong in games for the Hawkeyes. Sophomore Allison Doocy has led the team in the circle with stellar performances over some of the top teams in the country.

“My main thing is confidence,” Doocy said. “I had a close game with Texas A&M that was hard on me. Any of those ranked games — any of the games we’re playing right now — we can compete with them, and we believe we can get a win. I trust my offense, and I know they’re going to get the runs to back me up.”

South Dakota may not be the toughest foe on Looper’s schedule, but it is still key in Iowa’s transition into conference play.

The Jack Rabbits mark the closing of Iowa’s nonconference schedule, which included quality wins over the likes of No. 8 Baylor and Arizona State.

Even with those impressive performances, the Hawkeyes will need to play to their full potential to add two wins to its record today.

The softball team has played 22-straight away games, with today’s game being the first at home since the fall for the Hawkeyes.