Submitted photo/University of Iowa Athletics: Ex-Fort Dodge all-stater Jalen Adams stands with her catcher, Skylinn Pogue, after throwing the 19th no-hitter in Iowa softball history on Friday.

IOWA CITY — Jalen Adams will get most of the credit for her historic performance on Friday.

A veteran pitcher knows that a no-hitter is a collective team effort, though. And no one was more thankful than Adams for the Hawkeye players surrounding her at Pearl Field.

Adams fired the 19th no-hitter in program history, blanking Michigan State by a final of 4-0 as Iowa improved to 3-1 in Big Ten play.

Hawkeye senior Grace Banes ranged deep into center field and made a catch right at the wall to preserve the no-hitter, the shutout and the win for the Hawks (15-11 overall) over the Spartans (12-18).

“Having my entire team jump up and down and celebrate like that was so amazing. I was just so happy for all of the girls and how we were able to compete (Friday),” said Adams, a sophomore who improved to 8-6 on the season. “I always say that with a no-hitter, it’s all thanks to the defense. Without my team behind me that could have been a very different game.

“My pitches were thankfully all hitting their spots, and when my changeup is effective, I feel like I’m in my zone. That keeps hitters guessing.”

Adams finished with two strikeouts, and improved her team-best totals for innings pitched, earned run average, shutouts, complete games and appearances. She fired a three-hitter in a 4-1 victory over Wisconsin last week to open league play.

Iowa broke a scoreless tie with three runs against MSU in the bottom of the fifth. Sammy Diaz drove in a pair with a single, which followed an RBI hit by Soo-Jin Berry.

Riley Moss added an RBI single in the next frame for an insurance run.

Adams added a single, a walk and a run scored at the plate as well. Fellow ex-Dodger Tory Bennett — who was an all-stater at Fort Dodge with Adams on the state runner-up teams in 2020 and 2022 and the title squad of 2021 — had a pinch-hit single.

“Getting a win at home is always a big deal, but being able to add another game to our conference record is amazing,” Adams said. “Just getting us one step closer to that Big Ten championship we want.”

Iowa returns to action for a doubleheader on Saturday, again versus Michigan State. Adams will likely pitch the second contest at approximately 2 p.m.