With only two seniors on this year’s team, Iowa softball is leaning on its young players for offensive production.

Although the team has had glimpses of fire in batting in this early season, it struggled to get it going in its 10-1 loss to Western Illinois on Wednesday.

As the crux of the season comes closer, the team has racked up some solid offensive numbers while also searching to improve on struggles seen against the Leathernecks.

5 — runners left on base

Iowa had the ability to get runners on base in the loss to Western Illinois but had trouble converting opportunities.

Although Iowa’s usual power hitters — Aralee Bogar, Mallory Kilian, and DoniRae Mayhew — were quiet in the loss, other faces found some daylight. Lea Thompson knocked her second triple of the season into center-right in the bottom of the second inning, then scored Iowa’s only run of the game. Freshman Hallie Ketcham led the team with 2 hits on the night.

Getting bad looks happens for teams — especially young ones — so remaining focused and converting on opportunities is central for the team.

“We’re taking it one game and one series at a time,” Ketcham said. “Our focus is on our [game against Northwestern] on Friday night.”

0 — hits by Mayhew and Kilian

The Hawkeyes struggled to get it going at the plate in their loss to the Leathernecks. It looked like the team was going to find some fire early when Thompson hit a triple, but things slowed down for the Hawkeyes.

Much of that was because Iowa’s most consistent hitters were not able to reach base.

When Mayhew and Kilian have the bats working, Iowa scores a lot of runs. The squad averages 5 runs in wins this year but under 2 in losses.

“When [Mayhew] is on, when Kilian is on, when [Bogar is] on, when those guys are on it’s our game, and nobody was on tonight,” Iowa head coach Renee Gillispie said.

6 — length of Kilian’s hitting streak that ended Wednesday

Iowa changed its lineup a bit leading into Wednesday’s matchup.

Kilian has been a constant force for Iowa this season, powering the team both as a consistent hitter and veteran leader.

She saw action at the top of the lineup for the Hawkeyes, Gillispie said, so Iowa could try to get a bigger hitter at the top. But the senior didn’t get the looks she wanted and ended the night 0-for-4.

“We made a change in the lineup [tonight] because we have to get more power at the top,” Gillispie said. “She didn’t get the game she needed to as a leadoff hitter for us, so we may need to put her back. It’s those little things we need to do as coaches to figure out what is the best fit.”