Softball Opens 2018 at Rochester Dome, Finish 2-2
Mar 4, 2018
ROCHESTER, Minn. - In the pre-season IIAC Coaches Poll, the Spartans were picked to finish ninth in coach Wendi Wipperfurth's ninth season for the Spartans (106-159). UD returns four starters and eight letterwinners in 2018.
"We are excited for the new season with some new talent as well as strong returners," commented Wipperfurth. "As always, the conference will be strong, and we will all be battling to compete in the conference tournament." The Spartans look to get back to the conference tournament after having made three straight appearances in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
The Schedule: The 2018 Iowa Conference schedule begins on Friday, March 30 with four of the nine schools in action to open their 16-game league schedule. Schools play a doubleheader versus each IIAC opponent. On March 30th Central will host Coe and Wartburg will travel to Nebraska Wesleyan. Saturday, March 31st will feature one league match-up with Simpson hosting Buena Vista. Luther and Loras will square off in Decorah on Tuesday, April 3rd to begin their conference slate of games. The University of Dubuque will open Iowa Conference action on Saturday, April 7th at Nebraska Wesleyan.
IIAC Tournament: The 2018 Iowa Conference Tournament will be held May 4-5 with the tournament's top seed serving as host. The tournament is a single-elimination format, consisting of six schools. The top two seeds from the regular season standings will receive first-round byes. The two opening-round games are played on Friday with semifinals and the final on Saturday.
The Spartans take their first pitch in the Rochester Dome in Rochester, Minn., on March 3-4 in the First Annual ACM Softball Tournament. A busy schedule with 12 games each day with six being played on field one (south) and six games on field two (north). Admission is $5 per day.
Rochester Dome Weekend:
The Spartans finished the weekend 2-2 overall. UD's offense was led by Ellie Schneider wgo ended the tournament batting .500. Gabrielle Marchese hit .444 and Morgan Turnmire and Makenzie Kopp both with .333 at the plate. Turnmire collected six RBI's in four games. As a team, UD hit .280 and ended with 19 RBI's. Defensively the Spartans committed nine errors for a fielding percentage of .952 in their first outing of the season.
On the mound Kopp has a 1-1 record with an ERA of 1.27 and fanned six batters. Taylor Kurtz is 1-0 and has an ERA of 3.82.
Sunday, March 4
Knox College vs. UD at 2:00 p.m. BOX SCORE
UD vs. Lake Forest College at 4:00 p.m. BOX SCORE
Saturday, March 3
Beloit College - 3, UD-12 in 5 innings BOX SCORE
UD-3, Northwestern (MN) - 8 BOX SCORE
| 2018 IIAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll | |||
| Rank | School (1st place votes) | Points | 2017 Record |
| 1. | Luther College (8) | 64 | 41-5, 15-1 IIAC (IIAC Regular Season & Tournament Champion) |
| 2. | Central College (1) | 56 | 32-10, 13-3 IIAC |
| 3. | Coe College | 49 | 31-11, 11-5 IIAC |
| T4. | Buena Vista University | 39 | 20-17, 8-8 IIAC |
| T4. | Wartburg College | 39 | 22-16, 9-7 IIAC |
| 6. | Loras College | 32 | 23-13, 6-8 IIAC |
| 7. | Nebraska Wesleyan University | 18 | 18-18, 3-11 IIAC |
| 8. | Simpson College | 17 | 8-28, 3-13 IIAC |
| 9. | University of Dubuque | 10 | 11-28, 2-14 IIAC |
