Jalen Adams provides steady presence in the pitching circle for Iowa softball

IOWA CITY – Jalen Adams is enjoying her best college season.

Iowa’s right-handed starter has been a steady and consistent presence in the pitching circle. The Hawkeyes have thrived behind her.

Adams owns a 25-5 record and the sixth-seeded Hawkeyes bring a five-game win streak into the Big Ten Conference softball tournament hosted by Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., beginning Wednesday. Iowa opens against No. 11 Penn State in the first round at 10 a.m. (Iowa time).

The Hawkeyes (35-17) closed the regular season with five straight victories, winning 10 of the last 11 and going 13-2 in the final 15 games. Adams has nine of her wins during that stretch.

“Honestly, at this point in the season, all the reps I've had, building up, has just helped me find what works for me, and just leaning into that,” said Adams , who ranks second nationally in victories and 10th with 29 starts. “I think I try to not put too much on every pitch. Trust the work I put in and really just go after the hitters and I feel like that's been working for me so far.”

If you look at numbers, everything has improved. She has more wins and strikeouts (128) than her first two seasons combined and has a career high with 20 complete games and 194 1/3 innings pitched, which are good for sixth and seventh in the country, respectively.

Adams has matched her total of shutouts and saves. She has shrunk her earned-run average to 2.02 and opponents’ batting average to .207 with 1.07 walks/hits per inning pitched.

Adams’ tenacious approach can intimidate batters, but she’s having fun playing catcher with battery mate Desiree Rivera.

“I feel like I'm honestly just really trying to focus on Des's glove,” Adams said, “and not really worrying about too much outside of the pitch that's right in front of me.”

The selfless former Fort Dodge all-state pitcher was quick to share the credit for the difference from a year ago. Acting head coach Karl Gollan, Rivera and team chemistry have all played a factor in added success, according to Adams.

“Honestly, Coach Karl just knows how to push me in a way that I feel like I've never experienced before, and our team's closer than we've ever been.” Adams said. “Des is a great catcher. Pitching to someone that really believes in you makes a big difference.”

Adams already has a win over then-No. 20 Nebraska, who awaits the winner of Iowa and Penn State in the second round. She scattered eight hits without an earned run in a win over the Huskers. She also pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief for a win over then-No. 5 UCLA. A recent series against Michigan State catapulted her into the late-season run.

“She ran into a little bit of trouble there and then kind of had a turning point where she flipped the switch,” Gollan said about attacking hitters consistently. “I think it's for the better and I think we'll see that moving forward.”

Gollan said Adams has demonstrated a thirst for knowledge. He noted that Adams is mentally tougher, understanding her ability and the art of pitching beyond ball flight, movement and velocity. Adams has matured and learned different ways to get batters out.

“Just her desire to learn is the catalyst,” Gollan said. “She's hungry to learn. She works really hard and she wants to understand the craft of pitching.

“She's thirsty for knowledge. As much as she's chasing the physical side of pitching, she wants to understand it mentally as well. She's constantly engaging in conversation.”

Iowa has tied the most wins in a season, matching its 2023 total. The Hawkeyes returned to the Big Ten tournament, missing the event last season. One more win and it will be the most in a season since Gayle Blevins led Iowa to a 42-16 mark and NCAA regional appearance in 2009.

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