April 15, 2004
AMES – The University of Iowa softball team won their 10th-consecutive game Thursday with a 4-0 victory over Iowa State in Ames. The win gives Head Coach Gayle Blevins her 999th career win. She will try and become just the third NCAA Division I coach to win 1,000 games tomorrow night against Coe. The game will start at 6 p.m. at Pearl Field.
In Thursday night’s action, Iowa starter Lisa Birocci (16-8) won her ninth-consecutive game. She pitched seven shutout innings, allowed just three hits and struck out 10.
Iowa jumped on the scoreboard early, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Natalie Johnson led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a single from Kylie Murray. Stacy May then hit into a double play, but Johnson scored on the play.
Birocci helped her own cause in the top of the second by blasting a two-run home run over the centerfield fence.
In the third, Iowa scored its final run when Johnson singled and ended up scoring when May reached on an error.
The 4-0 lead was more than enough for Birocci, who shut down the Cyclones the rest of the way. Iowa State did manage a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. The Des Moines native pitched her way out of the jam, and sealed the win for Iowa.
Iowa upped its record to 28-15 (8-0).