April 24, 2004
IOWA CITY –
The University of Iowa softball team completed a sweep of the Penn State Nittany Lions with an 8-0, five inning win Saturday at Pearl Field. Iowa moves its record to 32-17 overall with a 10-2 mark in the Big Ten. Penn State falls to 19-28, 4-10 in the conference.
The Hawkeyes took advantage of five Nittany Lion errors, while starting pitcher Lisa Birocci silenced the Penn State bats for the second-straight day. The junior allowed only one hit, while striking out seven and walking just three.
Iowa exploded in the third inning for seven runs off five hits and a Penn State error. Sarah Thomson, Sami Baugh (2), Laura Chipman, Natalie Johnson and Kylie Murray all picked up RBIs in the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Iowa loaded the bases with one out, and scored on a wild play that began with a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Emily Gerlick and ended with Mindy Heidgerken doubled off at third.
Birocci then shut down the Penn State bats in the bottom of the inning, ending the game via eight-run rule.
The Hawkeyes will return to action Sunday with a doubleheader against Ohio State. Game one is set to start at noon.