SOFTBALL: Cyclones to face in-state rivals
Iowa State’s Sydni Jones collides with Amanda Bradberry, 22,’s arm during the softball game against North Dakota State on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The Cyclones beat the Bison 6-1. Photo: Josh Harrell/ Iowa State Daily
April 5, 2009
The battle for the Cy-Hawk trophy continues Wednesday as the Cyclones (19-20, 1-5) travel to Iowa City to take on the in-state rival Hawkeyes (29-9, 3-3).
Both teams will be looking to put an end to their losing streaks. Iowa State has dropped its past three decisions and lost seven of its last ten overall. Iowa, on the other hand, is sitting on a two-game losing streak, after the team dropped a couple of close games to Penn State.
The Cyclones will have a tough task ahead of them as the Hawkeyes’ pitching has a combined ERA of 1.20 in 38 games. Coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler feels the team will just need to focus during their at-bats against Iowa.
“In order to have success, in every at-bat, when you get a good pitch to hit, capitalize on it,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “If you’re ahead in the count then really take advantage of being ahead and also don’t worry about what happened in the last at-bat; each time’s a new at-bat.”
The defense of the game may also play a factor in Tuesday’s game. Both teams will look to put the ball in play and maybe force fielding errors to help score some runs.
Iowa State is currently sitting in last place in overall fielding percentage with .948, committing 62 errors in 39 games.
The Cyclones, however, have forced their opponents to commit 68 errors.
Iowa on the other hand sits atop the Big 10 in fielding percentage. The Hawkeyes have committed 25 errors in 38 games and has forced their opponents to commit 53 errors.
“If you look at their lineup, they do have some speed,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “And when you do have some speed, then you put some pressure on the defense, and that can cause some mistakes.”
With this game being a part of the Cy-Hawk series, the focus may be more toward the rivalry and what a win would mean for each school. The team hopes that playing in the Big 12 will get them ready for this game.
“After the game on [Sunday] we talked about what a good preparation playing in the Big 12 is to play Iowa,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “Iowa is doing very well and we just need to prepare the same way we have been preparing for any Big 12 school we play.”
