April 30, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Iowa softball team was defeated by the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 2-0, Friday night in Minneapolis. Minnesota’s Piper Marten threw her fourth-career no-hitter, and allowed only two Iowa runners to reach base.
Iowa falls to 34-19 overall, 11-4 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota ups its record to 31-19 (8-7). The Hawkeyes remain in second place in the conference.
Marten came out of the gates firing, setting the first 11 Hawkeye hitters down before Stacy May was hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth.
The Golden Gophers scored all the runs they would need in the bottom of the second inning. Hailee Nanchy led off the inning with a single. After pinchrunner Christina Zimmerman was sacrificed over to second, Rachel Keeney hit a line drive single to left to bring home Minnesota’s first run of the game. After Keeney was sacrificed over to second, freshman Rene Konderik doubled off the left field wall to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead.
Iowa’s bats were unable to respond, as Marten continued her dominance the rest of the way for the no-hitter.
Lisa Birocci took the loss for the Hawkeyes, allowing two runs on six hits. She struck out six and is now just three strikeouts short of breaking the Iowa single-season strikeout record she set last year (260).
Iowa and Minnesota will do battle again tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon.