Softball Set for B1G Tournament
May 06 | Softball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 6, 2015) -- The Rutgers softball team makes a trip back to Columbus, Ohio for the 2015 Big Ten Softball Tournament hosted by Ohio State from. No. 7 Rutgers will face No. 10 Iowa in a primetime matchup on Thursday, May 7 at Buckeye Field. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
2015 BIG TEN TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | TOURNAMENT BRACKET | GAME NOTES
RU'S LAST TIME OUT
Rutgers (29-19, 11-12 Big Ten) concluded its regular season with a 3-2 walk-off win over Wisconsin at home. After senior Jackie Bates (Lincroft, N.J.) tied the game, 2-2, with a two-run homer, classmate Alyssa Landrith (Vacaville, Calif.) held the Badgers scoreless for four straight frames. On the first pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman Rebecca Hall (Fairfax, Va.) notched a walk-off home run to give RU the win.
Earlier in the week, Bates notched a career-high three home runs in RU's 18-9 win over LIU-Brooklyn, including her first grand slam of the year. Bates, a Second Team All-Big Ten selection, leads the team with a .393 batting average, 59 hits, 59 runs, three triples and 36 walks. Additionally, Bates led the Big Ten with 22 home runs, an RU single-season record, and a .947 slugging percentage.
Landrith, RU's all-time winningest pitcher, picked up her 67th victory in RU's walk-off win over Wisconsin. The lefty leads the team with a 3.23 ERA on the season and a win-loss record of 15-11. Landrith earned Second Team All-Big Ten accolades for her performance this year.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa (17-39, 8-15 Big Ten) wrapped its season with a series loss to Northwestern. The Hawkeyes dropped the first two contests of the three-game set before claiming an 8-6 victory in the finale. The win snapped a six-game skid for Iowa.
Megan Blank leads the lineup in batting average (.435), hits (70), home runs (9), doubles (17) and RBIs (40). Blank was a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection following the season. Sammi Gyerman follows with a .331 hitting clip, which includes 57 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs and 34 RBIs.
In the circle, Shayla Starkenburg paces the pitching staff with 229.0 innings pitched, compiling a win-loss record of 15-22 and an ERA of 5.04. Ashley Yoways follows with an ERA of 8.87 and a record of 2-16 across 107.2 innings of work.
Head coach Marla Looper is in her fifth season with the Hawkeyes.
SERIES VS. IOWA
Thursday's matchup marks the first meeting between Rutgers and Iowa as conference opponents. The Hawkeyes hold a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series with the last meeting dating back to 2010.The winner of the game will go on to meet No. 2 Minnesota on Friday, May 8 at 8 p.m.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers softball, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSoftball) and Instagram (@RU_Softball). The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersSB).
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