Photo Courtesy of Iowa Athletics
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Senior pitcher Kayla Massey was selected Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after helping the University of Iowa softball team earn its second-consecutive series win, the conference office announced Monday. It is Massey’s second weekly honor, as she was tabbed Big Ten Pitcher of the Week as a sophomore on April 23, 2012.
Massey posted her fourth and fifth complete game wins of the season — 4-1 in game one and 4-1 in game three — in the circle against Wisconsin, April 29-30. In game one, Massey limited the Badgers to one run and struck out six. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run and an RBI to help her cause.
The Foothill Ranch, Calif., native matched her season-high with seven strikeouts in game three of the series and held the Wisconsin offense to one run. Massey went 1-for-4 at the plate in the contest.
On the weekend, Massey posted a 2-0 record, 1.00 earned run average, and 13 strikeouts. She limited Wisconsin, a team that averages 4.1 runs per game, to one run in each of her games pitched. Massey also compiled a .364 batting average, .636 slugging percentage and .417 on-base percentage at the plate for the Hawkeyes.
“Kayla came out and had two solid outings last weekend,” head coach Marla Looper said. “She worked hard and helped our team gain some victories by keeping Wisconsin off the board. It’s huge when you can get a good start in the circle and your pitcher can keep you in a ball game until you can put some runs up. Kayla did that, and she helped us offensively as well.”
Massey and the Hawkeyes return to action for their home opener against in-state foe Drake on Wednesday, April 2. The game will be shown live online on the Big Ten Digital Network (BTDN).
