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Michigan softball faces Iowa in league opener

The sign from the coaches all week had been to swing away. But the Michigan women's softball team will have to keep the bat on its shoulder for another few days.

Inclement weather and cold temperatures forced the cancellation of yesterday's game against the Fighting Irish in Notre Dame, Ind. The Wolverines had the bus loaded up and ready to leave when they received word of the cancellation.

The contest, scheduled to be played on Notre Dame's Ivy Field at 2 p.m., was to be a doubleheader and a rematch of last season's NCAA Region 1 tournament matchup. Michigan ousted the Fighting Irish in two games.

The Big Ten season now begins in earnest for the Wolverines as they take on Iowa this Saturday in conference action. Michigan is the defending conference champion and the highest ranked Big Ten team at No. 11.

The conference season consists of 28 games between the competing schools. This season, Wisconsin will compete in Big Ten softball for the first time.

The top four conference teams advance to the Big Ten tournament to decide who receives the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.

So now the Wolverines turn their attention to a more formidable foe -- the Hawkeyes. Iowa comes to Ann Arbor for a three-game series against Michigan. The Hawkeyes are currently No. 16 in the nation, third among Big Ten teams.

Saturday the teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Alumni Field. That will be followed up by a single game Sunday also at 1 p.m.

The Wolverines are out for revenge against the Hawkeyes. Iowa eliminated the Wolverines from the NCAA Women's College World Series last season in a 14-inning contest. The 9-7 final ended Michigan's bid for the national title.

The Wolverines did, however, defeat Iowa twice at Alumni Field in last season's Big Ten tournament.

Because of the unpredictable spring weather, Michigan's early season games were all played in tournaments on the road.

The home field gives Michigan a distinct advantage with this weekend's games being the first this season at Alumni Field. The Wolverines went 23-3 at home last season and currently have a nine-game home winning streak.

This weekend's games against Iowa also hold personal significance for Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. Hutchins was an assistant coach in 1981 on Iowa coach Gayle Bevins' staff at Indiana.