Iowa Uses 7th Inning Rally To Beat UNI

April 21, 2004

Box Score

IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa softball team put up a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 4-3 victory over Northern Iowa Wednesday at Pearl Field.

Trailing 3-2, freshman catcher Sami Baugh led off the inning with a walk, and was replaced on the basepaths with Jenna Spratt. Ali Arnold moved Spratt to second with a sacrifice bunt, and senior Sarah Thomson followed with an infield single that put runners on the corners. Thomson stole second, and Laura Chipman laid down a bunt that the pitcher mishandled, scoring Spratt.

Freshman Mindy Heidgerken then ended the game with a single into left field, plating Thomson.

Iowa got the win despite getting out-hit by the Panthers 5-4. Each team committed two errors.

UNI got on the board first with a RBI single from Erin Strellner in the top of the fifth, but the Hawkeyes responded when Lisa Birocci, who replaced Arnold in the circle, hit a solo home run to tie the game.

The Panthers added two more runs to take a 3-1 lead in the sixth on a home run from Rachel Rogers and a passed ball that plated Tracy Davis. Iowa responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a Kylie Murray fielder’s choice.

Arnold, who started the game and re-entered to replace Birocci in the sixth, picked up the win. She is now 14-8 on the year.

Iowa ups its record to 30-17, while UNI falls to 10-28.