Sports, Wednesday, April 21st

By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com

College Softball: Iowa Wesleyan Hosts Simpson for Two:

The Iowa Wesleyan softball team (2-6) is back on their home diamond for two games today against Simpson College in a nonconference twin ball at Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.

The Tigers took their only game of the weekend, 3-1 against Spaulding on Friday afternoon.

It was then where they learned Spaulding had a positive test that shut down the rest of their weekend.

Simpson comes into the doubleheader 8-13, most recently dropping two of three to Central College in Indianola.

The Storm are led offensively by former Northeast Goose Lake standout Megan Crockett.

Crockett has hit five homers already this year and has driven in 20.

Meanwhile, Wesleyan’s offense has gone cold — the Tigers are dead last in the SLIAC in team batting average, just a shade over .200.

Former New London prep Kara Krieger leads the team in hitting, batting a robust .353, while shortstop Alex Eyman leads the team with seven runs batted in.

Game one of tonight’s doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m., with game two set for 6:00 p.m.

You can listen to tonight’s games on FM 105.5.

Nathan Bloechl will have the call shortly before 4:00 p.m.

College Track: Wesleyan’s Morris Named Conference Athlete of Week:

Iowa Wesleyan junior Alison Morris has been named the SLIAC Track Athlete of the Week, the league announced yesterday.

Morris ran a 44:20.62 in her 10,000-meter debut for the Tigers at the William Penn Invitational, taking second in the race.

Morris’s time ranks first in the SLIAC this year and second all-time in program history.

Morris also qualified for the Drake Relays in the 3000-meter steeplechase.

In her first time running the event, Morris ran 13:55.60 at the Grand View Invitational.

She also took fourth in the event and her time ranks fourth all-time in program history.

She is the first Tiger to qualify for the Drake Relays since 2014, first female since 2010 and first individual since 2007, when Floyd Turner qualified.

College Soccer: Saldana Named Conference Player of the Week:

Iowa Wesleyan junior forward Javier Francisco Saldana has been named the men’s soccer player of the week in the SLIAC, the league announced.

Saldana scored the lone goal for the Tigers in their match against the Greenville University Panthers last Wednesday, helping guide Wesleyan to a 1-nil shutout win.

Saldana is currently second in the conference in points with 19.

Saldana leads the conference in goals with nine and is tied for first for in shots racking up an absurd 42.

Unfortunately, Iowa Wesleyan’s season came to a close last night in a 2-0 defeat to Fontbonne University in the SLIAC Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Tigers’ close their season 6-2-2.

Men’s College Basketball: C.J. Frederick Transferring:

In shocking news from the University of Iowa, sophomore guard C.J. Frederick has announced his intentions to transfer from the Iowa basketball program.

Frederick, the former Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year, appeared in 52 games in two years with the Hawkeyes, including starting 27 games this past season.

Frederick averaged 8.8 points per game this past year.

The sharpshooter is already drawing interest from the University of Kentucky and is expected to have interest in joining former Hawkeye Jack Nunge at Xavier University in Cincinnati.

With the departure of Frederick, the Hawkeyes could start the 21-22 season with four new starters.

Women’s College Basketball: UNI, Warren, Agree to Contract Extension:

UNI and head women’s basketball coach Tanya Warren have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will keep Warren in Cedar Falls through the 26-27 season.

Warren helped orchestrate the Panthers to their deepest postseason run where the pushed to the WNIT Semifinals.

The Panthers finished the year with a 17-13 record, including an 11-7 MVC mark. It is the 13th consecutive season with a .500 record or better in Valley play, it was the 12th year in a row finishing in the top half of the MVC standings and it was the 12th year in a row that UNI earned at least 17 wins.

Warren is the winningest coach in program history with 260 career wins.

She was named the league’s coach of the year in 2010-11, 2013-14 and 2015-16.